Episode 88: Commitment vs Interest: Which Are You Feeling?

When you decide you want something different or want to achieve something, do you make a step-by-step plan and follow it exactly or do you dabble here and there? This has to do with the difference between being committed and being interested. 

This week’s episode explores those differences and gives you permission to be either.

What You’ll Learn:

• The difference between commitment and interest.
• Why our society only praises commitment.
• How you can tell which one you’re feeling.
• Permission to be either.

Life can be a dessert tray of amazing experiences. Commit to a couple that really fuels your passion. And remember to show some interest in all the other delicious offerings that are available to you. If you just don’t know what to choose, I can help you out with that. Schedule your Discovery Call with me today so I can help you make the most important commitment ever – to yourself.

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Transcript

Hey there and welcome! Good to have you join me again this week. How’s it going for you so far? Are you sticking with whatever goals you set for yourself? Since the new year began, I’ve set a couple of goals and am experiencing what so many people do as the days and weeks pass – the lack of desire to actually take the action needed to achieve that goal. One of my goals is to gain more strength and flexibility than I currently have. I’m ramping it up a notch but I want make sure I’m not going overboard, which has been a pattern for me in the past. When I’ve done that, I start fast and burn out fast, so I’ve created a routine that works pretty well for me. If I miss a day due to my schedule, I make sure not to beat myself up. I’m looking for progress not perfection. 

This time of year there is SO much attention around getting in shape and being committed to that. And – I’m noticing my resistance to the word commitment and I’m equating it with perfection. So, you know me, I decided to look up the word and here’s what the Google told me:

Commitment: an agreement or pledge to do something in the future. 

Hmmm. Then I read this quote from best-selling author Ken Blanchard, “There’s 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.” 

I made the realization that I’ve been more interested in things than committed for the majority of my life. I’d say it’s a 70/30 split of interested vs committed. This is fascinating to me and really good information to know. I’m not judging myself and I encourage you to do the same. There is no right or wrong here. You need to know when you’re committed and when you’re interested so you can take the pressure off your shoulders. 

So often we tell ourselves or others that we are committed to XYZ and then beat ourselves up when we find that commitment waning. What if you really weren’t all that committed, just more interested? Would that be OK? Notice what your brain is telling you right now? Is it saying only commitment is acceptable? Is your Perfectionist Derailer™ popping up to tell you only 110% is good enough and anything less is a big fat fail? 

I think this topic is so interesting because it sheds light on our culture’s obsession with excellence and perfection. Now don’t get me wrong. I believe in committing to something and seeing it through until the end for sure. And I also know that so many people take it to the extreme and beat themselves up if they miss a day or don’t complete it the way they think they should have. 

Professional athletes like Olympians have to be committed. Can you imagine working toward a goal for four years, dedicating your life to it without a guarantee that you will have it? The best of the best gets to go to the Olympic games and compete. If you missed it by 1/100th of a second, there goes your dream. You have to decide if you will commit to another four years or let it go. I just can’t imagine doing that, can you? It takes an incredibly focused person with a very strong drive to do this and show up day after day, week after week. 

So, what about being interested? I’m interested in a lot of things. My new source of fun is pickle ball and I love it. I’m interested in improving my skills, but I’m not committed to it. I play twice a week in two different leagues and that’s plenty for me. I’ll improve as I go along – hopefully – and that will be that. I have no desire to compete in a tournament. I just want to have fun and meet people. I’m committed to showing up each week, but I’m only interested in playing. See the difference?

So what is it for you? What have you been committed to in your life? When have you had that “never say die” attitude and kept going no matter what got in the way? I experienced that when I had my double mastectomy. Nothing was going to get in my way because I was committed to my health. And what have you been interested in where you had that “I can do that” attitude and looked for opportunities to learn, but not master?

I invite you to explore this concept of commitment vs interest and see what comes up for you. Notice if you begin judging yourself for not being committed about certain things. Is it really a problem or are you feeling societal pressure or pressure from the people around you. Perhaps some of your goals aren’t really yours, but the goals of someone else that used to influence you.

I think about it this way – When I go to a restaurant, I always ask about desserts and if they have a tray, that’s even better. I like a varied dessert tray and I like to be able to have lots of options to choose from. I may sample several items, not committing to any of them at first. Once I find something I absolutely love – like chocolate mousse – I may commit to having that each time it’s offered. 

Life can be a dessert tray of amazing experiences. Commit to a couple that really fuels your passion. And remember to show some interest in all the other delicious offerings that are available to you. If you just don’t know what to choose, I can help you out with that. Schedule your Discovery Call with me today so I can help you make the most important commitment ever – to yourself.

That’s what I have for you this week. Until next time remember: I believe in you.