Commitment is necessary for success

Someone said bacon and eggs is an excellent example of the difference between just being involved, and real commitment. The chicken is involved, but she didn’t need to exert herself much to provide an egg or two. The pig, however, was well and truly committed.

The other day I came across a really thought-provoking piece about commitment I’d like to share with you, if you don’t already know it. It was written by a man named W.N.Murray, who was a member of the Scottish Himalayan Expedition, way back in 1951.

This is what he wrote…

“Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.
Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would otherwise never have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.
I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:
‘Whatever you can do, or dream you can… begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.’”

Aren’t they brilliant words? I’ve read them lots of times, and each time I read them, I feel even more the power of them.

Without commitment, we can make excuses and take the easy way, like sitting and watching a tv programme instead of doing what we know we ought to be doing. We fritter our time away, and are “ineffective”, never getting any closer to where we dream we’d rather be. But once we make the commitment to do what it takes – whatever it takes – then the Lord steps in and “… Providence moves too.”

That’s when a momentum starts to carry us forward, and the things we saw as hurdles become just stepping stones, with all sorts of things falling into place, which “no man could have dreamt would have come his way.”

Whatever you’re dreaming of doing, get started. That’s the secret. Take the first step. And then tell yourself over and over again you’re going to carry on with all your energy, staying focussed and committed, so you too can feel the “genius, power, and magic in it”.