Here's how I define commitment: you honor your word to yourself NO MATTER WHAT. You keep going even if you make a mistake. Even if you "fail." You don't throw in the towel, you just keep swimming. Or in this example... streaking.
So as of this post, I am on a 6 week streak according to my Peloton app. In addition, I have practiced yoga every day for the past 16 days straight.
So here's the thing... I have been on streaks before. I have had goals to exercise, yoga, follow my eating protocol every day for a set number of days. Sometimes that goal was achieved, but a lot of times... I "failed." I would miss one day of yoga, eat one bag of potato chips, you name it - and decided my "streak" was ruined. This would generally be followed by a cycle of beating myself up, throwing in the towel and giving up the goal.
But was my streak ruined? Did I in fact fail?
My streak being ruined wasn’t a fact. A fact is something that can be irrefutably proven in a court of law. A fact has no room for interpretation.
So what if I decide a streak means something else to me? What if I decide I’m proud of myself even if I didn’t do it perfectly? I still did pretty damn well. Maybe I decide I did in fact ruin my streak, but wow, look at what I DID accomplish.
It all depends on how we think about it. Commitment doesn't mean it's always perfect. Think of a committed relationship you've had in your life. I'm guessing you didn't throw in the towel over every little thing that goes wrong? My husband doesn't call me when he's on his way home like he said he would... I'm still there when he gets back, I didn't pick up and leave our relationship. Why? Because I'm committed and I've decided that commitment matters to me. Our marriage matters and I will keep going and working and growing, no matter what.
So this time, I’m approaching my yoga streak goal with curiosity. Even if it's hard or I fail for a day, I can keep going? (Even if my puppy won't stop biting my ankles in down dog!)
- How far can I go?
- If I miss a day, how quickly can I bounce back?
- What benefits will I see along the way?
- What will I gain?
- Why do I love this?
These are questions you can ask yourself any time in pursuit of a goal.
Questions that will keep it moving forward, keep your mindset in a place of curiosity and motivation. Questions that help you love yourself no matter what.
Comments