“I am interested in you!” If you think that statement is a great thing, then you need to read about “interest” here. Interest is a very good first step, but you must quickly move past it if you are serious about getting good results. Where do you go next? How about being “Committed”?
Merriam-Webster Dictionary says, commitment is “an agreement or pledge to do something in the future. It is the state or an instance of being obligated or emotionally impelled (to urge or drive forward as if by the exertion of strong moral)”. How would you feel for someone to graduate from being interested in you to being committed to you? Even organisations seek commitment. Let’s find out the characteristics of commitment. The motivation to pursue anything is based on:
- Obligation: to be duty-bound to do something. This is heavier than interest because you are restrained from acting contrary to the terms of your engagement. Of course, you might have enlisted voluntarily, but disengaging is not without its conditions or consequences.
- Moral code: the more morally sound people are, the more they strive to keep their promises.
- The desire to be the best: when you set a standard for yourself below which you must never fall, you have made a promise that will not be easily broken.
Nevertheless, commitment is a work in progress. It also has its limitations. Here are a few:
- If the obligation or agreement is removed, you may leave. Some people are committed only because they don’t have a choice. They will walk away from a relationship, job, business etc if only their promises are not held against them.
- You may hate the situation but you go on anyway: committed persons may not like you or your decisions, be they still stand by you because they are obligated to do so.
- You may not do more than necessary: when people are duty-bound without maintaining their interests, they may do their bit well but not a bit more. They may even require constant instructions to move to the next stage for lack of the desire to demonstrate initiative.
- Commitment is based on logic: people may disengage once they can mentally justify their actions. When you are convinced that people don’t deserve you, you will feel mentally free from all obligations.
So, do you want only committed people in your life or do you want more? Find out here