Thinking about Commitment

A friend on Facebook posted this thought today:

There is a difference
between interest and commitment.
When you're interested in something,
you do it only when it's convenient.
When you're committed to something,
you accept no excuses, only results.
This idea immediately resonated with me - and the more I thought about it, the more I liked it! Whether we are talking about reading for pleasure, losing weight, being a contributing member of an organization, or just about any other aspect of one's life, the difference between interest and commitment is significant.

I am an avid reader. Other people often mention to me that they'd like to read like I do ... when they find the time. I doubt I'm any less busy than they are, but I'm "committed" to being a reader. I'm not just interested in reading when it's convenient - but I make the time for this most enjoyable pastime. (Lately I have had less time to read than I would wish I did - but that's something I hope to correct through my efforts to create happiness in my life.)

On the other hand, I realize that I'm only "interested" - at the present time - in losing weight. When I'm tired, I don't exercise. When I feel like eating chocolate, I do it. Until I'm committed to losing weight, it just isn't going to happen.

In the things that matter most - in my faith, with my family, in the promises I've made - I want to always be committed.

Resolution: Walk for Exercise

The first resolution of my "happiness project" is to walk for exercise. At present, I am challenging myself to walk at least three days each week, for a total of at least five miles a week.

Although I feel my advancing age every day, I am in good health. Because I want to remain in good health for many years to come, I need to lose some weight and I need to lower my cholesterol. Neither weight loss nor cholesterol reduction are behaviors that I can incorporate into my life. ("Stand in the middle of the room and lose weight" is not something that anyone can do.) But walking for exercise on a regular basis is a behavior that can help with both my weight and my cholesterol. Walking also reduces stress and provides thinking time. Because I like to listen to music while I walk, I can get a double dose of serenity if I walk with my iPod Shuffle.

Earlier this year, I participated in a 100-Mile Fitness Challenge. I didn't make the 100-mile goal but I did walk 88 miles from January 1 through March 31 - and I had a great sense of accomplishment. Unfortunately, it was all too easy to stop walking once I no longer had the challenge to make me accountable. Regular walking is something I need to incorporate into my life on a long-term basis.

I walked two miles today.

Brainstorming: What Brings Me Guilt, Anger, Boredom, and Remorse

Searching for lost things. Dealing with ID-10-T situations. Not keeping the promises I make to myself. Yelling at my kids. Sitting in long, unproductive meetings. Eating too much. Complaining. Wasting time. Not being able to let things go. Having regrets about what I wish I'd done differently or what I wish I'd said instead. Being frustrated about people I think are unethical. Feeling like there is never enough time. Unfulfilled expectations, especially of people about whom I care.

Brainstorming: What Brings Me Joy, Satisfaction, and Engagement

Reading. Chocolate. Politics. Debits equal credits. Music. Positive feedback on a training session I conducted. Diet Coke with Lime. Ideas. Raspberries. Lists. Watching my children learn and grow. Talking about books. Playing word games. Successfully reconciling an account. Spending time with my sisters. Being near the ocean. Starting at the beginning and working my way through systematically. Mexican food. Analysis. A sense of connection to Jesus Christ. Concepts. Movies that make me cry. Books that change who I am or what I think. Learning something new. Naps. Sunshine. Rain. A full moon. Thunderstorms. Taking photos. Walking. National parks. Football games. Learning to play something new on the piano. Planning. Gaining new insights from scripture study. Being in the temple. Order. Feeling loved. Feeling appreciated. Quiet time. Microwave popcorn. Justice. Mercy. A good night's sleep.

Introductory Post

Gretchen Rubin. The Happiness Project. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2009. xiii.

A "happiness project" is an approach to changing your life. First is the preparation stage, when you identify what brings you joy, satisfaction, and engagement, and also what brings you guilt, anger, boredom, and remorse. Second is the making of resolutions, when you identify the concrete actions that will boost your happiness. Then comes the interesting part: keeping your resolutions.