What's Your Commitment Level?

Jack (Chicken Soup for the Soul) Canfield has a great line. He says: “99% is a bitch. 100% is a breeze.”

I recently read an article about the above quote, (http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-1396/99-Is-a-Bitch-100-Is-a-Breeze.html). When I read that quote I have to admit it gave me cause for pause. How obvious! That said, the power of that has escaped me for years.

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Case in point, my vitamins. To be honest, I want to take my vitamins. Obviously I think I should take my vitamins. I feel better when I do. That said, sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. It really doesn’t take that much time to do this one thing I think I should do. However, clearly I’m not 100% committed to taking them. Therefore, it’s a struggle. Every personal goal list I’ve made for the last five years, I have listed, take vitamins every day. That says something about 99% commitment. It doesn’t get you all the way.

Contrast that with my current medication and supplement schedule for my best friend pug Mozart. Four months ago he was diagnosed with cancer. Currently he is on a regimen of medications and supplements that lasts all day. One series of homeopathic medicines is ten doses, ten minutes apart, every day. That one medication alone takes an hour and a half. This doesn’t even count all the others. My kitchen typically looks like an apothecary, with bottles, mixtures, and concoctions everywhere.

Here’s the thing. In four months, I haven’t missed a dose - not one. Time consuming - yes. Hard - absolutely not. I have almost effortlessly adjusted my whole life schedule to accommodate all of it. Why was this massive medication schedule so easy to adapt to when simply taking my vitamins hasn’t been? Commitment. I am 100% committed to getting this dog his stuff. Now, I could probably do some time with a therapist on why I am more committed to his health then mine, but that’s not really the point. The point is 100% commitment is almost effortless.

Transition to other areas of my life that are effortless and upon examination the theme here holds true. This concept applies without exception, especially in relationships. Generally it sounds like a fairy-tale when I say my marriage is effortless. However, ask anyone who knows us, it’s true. Why? Because we are both 100% committed, and with that commitment things flow. Sure, occasionally issues come up. When they do, though, getting through them, is without effort. Resolution flows. Is it really that simple? I think it is.

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However, if you’re reading this and wondering about the legitimacy of this claim, I think it is at least worth looking at. If you are having issues in your relationship or anything else that seem like a lot of work, maybe it’s time to examine the commitment level. Getting gut deep honest on that issue might uncover some interesting revelations.

Now, I must go take my vitamins....