Why Health Clubs are Crowded in January

After thousands of miles on the trails, I have come up with a RUNNER'S definition of the word commitment.

Commitment:  doing what you promised yourself you would do....even when it's no longer fun.

Starting is easy—it’s the FINISHING that we humans are lousy at.  Starting requires courage, finishing requires commitment.  But where does commitment come from?

 ASK “WHY”?

I think creating commitment demands you confront your “why?” Why am I enrolled in this college Accounting course?  Why will I wake at 5am and train in blowing snow, in darkness and on ice through the Winter—even when I don’t want to—which will be almost always?  Why will I stick with this job, or this marriage that isn't so hot right now?

I think your “why” has to be a BIG “why.” Big enough to get you through the periods of doubt and exhaustion. A burning call to action that will jump-start you to summon the courage to squash the voice in your head  screaming at you next month in the 10 degree darkness to quit.

If you don’t know your “why”...why you are contemplating that college Accounting course or training for that marathon, I say WAIT to begin.  That’s right—WAIT.  Wait until you know why you are contemplating the journey.  In running, if it’s just about hard abs, and a nice butt your commitment will fail—yes—fail as I suspect a tight butt and six-pack abs are not big enough reasons to get you to get you out from under the covers in February at 5am.

Finding your "why" will not only facilitate commitment to succeed in school and on the track, but in the bigger courses of your life:  your job, your kids, your marriage.

AMJ