Nothing Less Than 100% Commitment

Jack Canfield's Success Principle #35

Most people wake up every day and struggle to stick with their plans. Successful people, however, do whatever it takes to achieve their goals, because they develop a 'no exceptions' rule. This means that we keep our eye on the end results, and we plow ahead without wavering from our mission. Sticking with our commitments 100% of the time is relatively easy if we follow this principle. If we don't, our lives can become unbearable, as we go through every day arguing with ourselves about what to do next.

When I was diagnosed with gluten and milk sensitivities, the lab report noted the amount of intestinal damage I had suffered from eating these foods. It was shocking, and I decided then and there that I would never again eat anything containing gluten or milk.

Many people ask me how I can stand such a strict diet. For me, it's easy. I made up my mind that I wanted to be healthy, and there's no arguing with myself when I'm offered forbidden foods.

This level of commitment is what we should see when two people get married. They make a decision to remain monogamous. As long as they keep the mindset that marriage is a no-exit highway, they're okay. But if one of them starts considering an affair with a co-worker, a neighbor, or a friend, the marriage becomes nearly unbearable. Commitment begins in our minds and remains easy, as long as we remain disciplined in our thinking.

James, the brother of Jesus, wrote about this back-and-forth type of thinking in our prayer lives: But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

A lack of commitment causes us to be double-minded, which in turn, leads to instability in all areas of our lives. If we meet someone who seems to have iron-clad will-power, realize that they have merely made up their minds to a commitment that is important to them.

If a goal or commitment is not really important to us, we'll never be able to stick with it. Many people say they want to lose weight, but they aren't truly committed to their goal. They diet when it's convenient, but when the holidays and the trays of cookies roll around, they forget all about their goal. Successful people are so committed to achieving a goal that they will accept nothing less than outstanding results.

Today's Challenge
Take a look at your 101 goals, your goals on index cards, or your Goals Book. How committed are you to achieving those goals? Remember, double-minded thinking will make achieving your goals an impossibility. Commit today to choose goals that you can stick with, no matter what.

Note: I have decided that I need to take a rest from writing on Sundays. Check back with me on Monday for our next principle, Learn More to Earn More.


Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com