And now for the third element of the ABC’s of Success. In case you forgot, the ABC’s of Success will not only aid you in creating a fulfilling life as a parent and role model but they will also assist you in equipping your child with the tools to dream and see those dreams become reality.
Commitment
The letter “C” in the ABC’s stands for commitment. This is the third part of the triad for success and perhaps the most difficult element. This third part is the most difficult because most people do not know how to commit to anything. As an example, in less than a month millions of Americans will make New Year’s resolutions to improve their lives but those resolutions will not last beyond the first month of the New Year.
Instead of losing the weight we want and need to lose we give up trying to be healthier in 30 days or less – accepting for another year the larger less satisfying version of ourselves. Others of us will resolve to quit smoking only to find ourselves more addicted than anytime previously – willing to endure extreme temperatures and declining health just to take another puff. I
nstead of improving our financial position, many of us will postpone long-term financial stability for immediate depreciating gratification – new cars at last year’s prices or purchases of depreciating goods with our new “low interest” credit cards.
Unfortunately, these are but a few of the ways most people commit to making the necessary life changes; by not committing at all. As a result of our behavior, we should not be shocked if our children watch and/or mimic our actions. To a child the aforementioned uncommitted behavior is a signal that being committed is synonymous with failing, refusing to do the thing(s) that we said we were devoted to do.
So we should not be surprised when our child quits the team in the middle of the season or no longer wants to play the instrument we paid for with our credit card.
Time to Take a Step Back
In order that you do not end up like the masses and serve as the wrong, unintended type of role model for your child, you might want to reassess what the word commit actually means. To commit means that you are bound and/or obligated to do something. You are bound and/or obligated to do the thing that you said you were going to do – that thing you said was of the utmost importance.
If you say that you are going to lose ten pounds in the New Year then you are bound to lose all ten. Losing nine and a half pounds won’t do. If you promise to quit smoking, smoking outside the building is not to be considered realization of your goal. If you say that you are going to be financially solvent then you are obligated to do so.
Making new purchases and devising a plan to pay off the additional debt in the coming years is not acceptable. Remember your children are watching, learning and ready to imitate your behavior.
When you are bound to your resolutions you are stuck, you can do nothing except be obligated. When you are obligated you are trapped, you can do nothing less than fulfill your duty in its entirety. This is the condition of commitment that will have you improve your health, quit smoking and become financially fit.
This is the commitment required so that you can be the mentor your children require. Don’t you want your children to believe through your accomplishments in their ability to see their own dreams come true?
In the words of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. “keep hope alive”. It is possible for you to have the life you always hoped and dreamt. It is possible through your actions and behavior to show your children that impossible is nothing.