You Have to Commit

I recently finished watching the 2016 series, The Night Manager, based on the suspenseful novel by John le Carré.

Without revealing spoilers, the story follows Jonathan Pine, a high-end hotel's night manager, who goes to great lengths to avenge a death. At one point in the show, after overcoming and surviving many dangerous situations, Pine confronts his nemesis, Richard Roper, and repeats a statement Roper had made earlier:

"You have to commit, or you're nothing. You have to choose: you're either in, or you're out."

I reflected on this quote afterwards, considering instances when I faced a similar choice. When I fully committed to a goal, like starting my own business or finally launching a blog, I worked towards my goals despite the obstacles that appeared before me. These became mere stumbling blocks, opportunities to learn alternative approaches to reaching my goals.

Conversely, when I didn't fully commit, when I claimed to want to achieve a goal but didn't do whatever it took, I fell short of my objectives. The obstacles became insurmountable. For years, I told myself I wanted to be a writer, but I hadn't fully committed. I dabbled and imagined myself living the "writer's life" but never took any real action. Instead of being a published author, I'm only getting started.

To harness commitment, we must strengthen three core pillars:

1: Clear Goals

We need goals we truly believe in. We must nurture our goals with unwavering devotion, like gardeners tending to seedlings. We should evaluate whether our goals genuinely matter to us and align with our values and passions.

Pine had a clear goal that lit a fire within him: to avenge his lover's death.

2: Mental Resilience

We must cultivate mental resilience. We will encounter obstacles, naysayers, and internal resistance. Commitment propels us forward when challenges arise. It's the glue that holds us together when things get tough. With solid goals we believe in, we should be like oak trees during tough times: deeply rooted in determination. We may bend, but we won't break. Our goals are too important.

Throughout The Night Manager, Pine finds himself in many dangerous situations. He would take a deep breath, remind himself why he put himself in the situation in the first place, and then take one step in front of the other.

3: A Supportive Network

We require a supportive network. As social creatures, we navigate this world with others. We are either uplifted or held down by those around us. We must seek like-minded individuals who share our passion and understand our journey. When our inner fire is dwindling, the right people can reignite it.

Pine was in the thick of Roper's world, physically alone, but he knew that there were people outside who were working with him, helping him. This knowledge helped him keep going.

Ultimately, commitment is a choice. We decide whether to embrace our goals with unwavering dedication or let go and settle. When our alarm rings in the morning, when faced with procrastination or action, we determine our level of commitment.

I'm committed to publishing an article every week, no matter what. I'm dedicated to learning about our incredible world and leaving it a better place. I'm here to inspire you, dear reader, to live a life of purpose.

Commitment is demonstrated through action, not words. So, pick one important goal, write down the steps necessary to achieve it, and then take the first step this week.

Until next week,

Ric.

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