Commitment

Definition 2 is the one that is of greater importance for this discussion, and even more important, the latter component.  The definition says “the state or an instance of being OBLIGATED or EMOTIONALLY COMPELLED.

I like this.

Most people in our world are committed to something, and perhaps many things.  I would like to offer up that at any point in time, however, your commitments and your feelings might be in great opposition.  Let’s use health as our backdrop for this discussion.  Have you ever been on a diet (and very likely confirmed audibly to someone else that you were “committed”), and find yourself in a situation where the LAW of the diet said “no”, but your decision said “well, just right now, no big deal”.  So is that commitment, or interest?

You see the word OBLIGATED, really leaves no room for error.  It is a word of absolute.  There is no room for adjustment or change, when you are truly committed, you should be using the word “obligated” to describe your position.  When we use the word “emotionally compelled”, well… now we have let in the opportunity of any other emotion to cloud our judgement.  Granted, emotion is often part of our commitments, but when we have resolved them to the level of obligation, it has gone beyond emotion.

We use the terms motivated and inspired similarly.  I have seen many motivated people… motivated by a belt that needs more holes, or perhaps soaring blood pressure or cholesterol, and in some cases a severe cancer diagnosis.  But the problem I have seen, no matter how serious the reason, if all you have is motivation, it is fleeting.  Everyone knows this, because every single one of you has had a moment of stress, or anxiety over some news.  That information is very motivating, you want to change something, create something, do something… and everyone of you has had a situation where you did nothing, but still your anxiety or stress disappeared, because of one thing… time.

Motivation is fleeting, and all it takes is time.  Where inspiration, it comes from God, it is bigger than you, and once inspired to do something, well… you do it, through and through.  So back to commitments.  If you are really obligated, then it is the same as inspiration.  It is beyond your emotion, and it is beyond the potential of failure.  I sometimes feel like I am asking patients for a lot once we have taught you the importance of spinal correction, then diet, exercise, and ultimately toxin reduced living.  But the reality is all I really want is your interest and motivation.  I don’t ask for commitment because I know that takes time effort and most importantly, inspiration.

We have a One-Day Extreme Makeover coming up on Saturday May 14th in Kennesaw. We will get some fliers up shortly, but the short of it is that we are hooking up with the other Maximized Living offices in the area for a great event.  Unfortunately I won’t be there because of a prior OBLIGATION to do a 28 hour adventure race.  Nonetheless, the event will be awesome, and will help you build more and more towards a committed life of health!

By the way, this month marks our 10th Anniversary.  I can’t imagine how these last ten years could be any different now that we look back, and I hope all of you will join me as committed Maximized Living Lifestyle patients for the next ten years!  Be well – Dr. E