I recently spent some time with leaders in the personal development industry and relearned a very important virtue. It is not like I had forgotten, however, people tend to get lax in the course of everyday life and do not realize that the value of their word is less than solid.
Making a comittment is serious business and should not be taken lightly. The problem seems to be that people make too many commitments and then when they are overwhelmed, they just keep some and ignore others. Those people who were depending on your word to do what you say you are going to do are let down in the process.
Your commitment level should not change with the tide or the seasons because your committment level is a reflection of who you are. To decommitt just because you changed your mind or it is not convenient for you damages your character. It is a way also to get attention or sympathy that is not warranted.
I watched an individual play the game of yes I will, no I won't to get through a course that she wanted to graduate from but did not want to do the work or process necessary for the honor of graduation. Unfortunately she found someone of authority who was pulled in on a personal level with sympathy and given permission to take herself out at every corner and call it progress. Yes pretended progress just enough to keep the attention and sympathy coming and even threatened to leave on several occassions. Her committment level and her word were not genuine. Commitment requires accountability and when someone does not hold you to that then your character is damage in the interim.
So when making considerations for future commitments, keep in mind that there is a lot more at stake than just a simple "I decided not to." Value your word, all it stands for and make sure it is truely something others can depend on.
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