Get in Tune with your Goals – Commit to Yourself
Setting up realistic small goals is fundamental for the conquering of bigger dreams and projects. There are hundreds or perhaps even thousands of techniques that one can put into practice to accomplish our plans.
There is one thing, though – what about self-commitment? Without it, we will not be able to accomplish anything. Are you seriously ready to commit the rest of the year?
Accomplishing goals and plans are fundamental for the evolution of our lives. Progress is happiness, and stagnation is practically death. In the teachings of the Upanishads, (Katha Upanishad), the good and the pleasant are presented as experiences rooted in our nervous system.
“There are two things in this world, and people pursue
either this or that. These two may be regarded as the path of
the pleasant, and the path of the good. Most people choose
the former, and not the good. The pleasant is pleasing, but
passing, and ends in pain. It is different from the good. But
while the good need not necessarily be pleasant, the
pleasant is not good.”
The act of commitment might no be pleasurable at first, but the result of this engagement is indeed more pleasurable than the result of stagnation. It is not enough to plan and strategize; we must strive and fight back our negative habits and work harder to become a better version of ourselves.
The Way to Commitment
The first thing one must understand before committing is to know what we want. This process can be sometimes difficult as there so many distractions in the world and can make our minds vulnerable and prone to procrastination. Knowing not only the reason for what we want but to identify yourself with the result is vital to reach success and fulfillment.
One practical way to develop commitment is to make things incredibly easy. Don’t be a perfectionist. Break down your primary goal into little tiny mini weekly or daily goals. Build up the confidence you need to change the perception of yourself.
Perfectionism is dangerous because it creates lots of pressure and instead of raising your standards, you are creating a hostile environment where the peace embedded in progress is consumed by the irrational awareness of agitation, subtle anger and even depression resulting from an unhealthy level of perfectionism.
Be compassionate with yourself, Buddhist nun Pema Chodron affirms that compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It’s a relationship between equals. Only when we know our darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.
Likewise, the commitment to a consistent and steady yoga practice will create humility, compassion, even a sense of stillness in mind, but most importantly patience which will grow gradually with time allowing the commitment for growth to become steady as the breath. Committed to a spiritual practice will help you in life. A yogi once said: “When you can accept the irony that yoga is not about postures at all, then the frustration due to the physical abilities will start to fall away.”
Be committed and conquer your goals.
What are you doing to engage in supportive practices aimed towards your human fulfillment?