Commitment

Our topic this month is Commitment, the act of voluntarily taking on and fulfilling personal obligations. As we spoke last week about how to get the most out of this topic, it was important to first acknowledge that this group of women is overwhelmingly committed to themselves - as evidenced by their involvement in an enrichment collective - and their children/family units. We would like you to begin thinking about Commitment as it applies to your life both inside and outside of those parameters.

It used to be a given that a person would be committed to an ideal, a life partnership, a career or a belief system, and that it would provide the stability and foundation to anchor our lives. The way our society shifts now is dramatic and evidenced by everything from the high rate of divorce, multiple career changes, electronic interpersonal communication and lighting fast technological tools. Our social constructs are evolving everyday. Commitment means remaining steadfast and true to our principles and goals, no matter what else shifts, and reminding ourselves of our obligations and honoring them. To be successful in any part of our lives requires action to be taken, and commitment is what incites us to action. A key element in Commitment is its voluntary component; it is what makes it so personal to each of us. At the end of the day, we answer only to ourselves.

Homework (Choose 3-4 of the following questions to focus on):

How passionate are you in making a project work, building a career, raising your children or staying fit and healthy? Does intentionality have a place in your life plan?

Have you made commitments and lost interest in the end game before you saw the project through? What have you learned about yourself in the process? How have you balanced steadfastness with your evolving self? Are you living a life that is a contradiction to your core beliefs?

Life is busy, time is short and resources are precious. There are endless possibilities to how we can raise our children, but in reality, choices need to be made in order to nurture specific talents, skills and values. Have you

thought clearly about what you want to teach your children and committed yourself to that project?

Do your consider yourself a person who can be trusted with commitments? Are you attracted to people like yourself, or are you seeking friends who are your opposite in that respect? What strengths or weaknesses do you bring to committed action plans?

How did you grow up...in a house where you allowed to skip out on things or where you held accountable? Where you involved in theater, music, sports? Did these focuses help instill a deep practice of dedication for you?

When you commit to an event or gathering, do you go feet first or do you hem & haw? Do you keep standards in order to commit? Do you feel things out as they come?

If you fail to commit and follow through does this impact your day, your week or even your overall well being?

Socially, there is a high value associated with being consistent. In many cultures, having a high degree of consistency is normally considered to be a sign of high personal strength and intelligence. Reflect on the deep meaning of what it is to be consistent, to keep your word and follow through. If we were truly measured on our consistency, where would you rank?

Bonus points:

Bring an action plan for something that you have procrastinated in implementing. Draw up a map, a calendar, or directions that will move you closer to your objective.

Use this as an opportunity to clean out your commitment closet. Rather than pretending that you are all-in on a project or a friendship, let go or move things to a back burner for the present. This opens up more space for your real priorities.

Bring forward something that you have been wanting to commit to and write this down someplace where you will see it multiple times a day. Practice looking at the words and reflecting on the meaning. Do this for a week (before our meeting) and see if there has been any movement for you & share your insights with the group.

See you next week,

with love,

Maria and Melissa