Unwavering Commitment

I tiptoed out of my bedroom, trying my best to bypass the squeaky floorboards in the hallway. It had become an early morning dance to get down the stairs without waking her.

I sat down in my “prayer chair,” alone and eager to greet the day with some peace and reflection.

But just as I got settled in, I heard her frantic race to find me.

Our dog, Yoda, becomes temporarily insane every morning. She immediately wants her special treat, and she’s a wild little maniac until she gets it. I understand—I feel the same way about coffee!

However, I know if I don’t take time for prayer first thing in the morning, I won’t do it. And my days are consistently better when I center myself.

So that sweet dog simply needs to wait. And I’ve discovered the perfect way to hold her off.

Deception.

Yep. I pretend to be reading. If I have a book in front of my face, she lays down peacefully and patiently. It’s a no go if I’m just sitting there, but if she’s sure I’m actually busy with something, she backs off.

When I’m finished with my quiet time, I put the book down and she goes right back to bouncing and panting.

What I found myself thinking about one day, as I was fake reading, was the word commitment.

Commitment to self-care. Commitment to prayer. Commitment to something.

I felt a sense of pride that I was willing to get creative for the sake of building a strong habit. To follow through on something I valued. I was intentionally dodging distraction, which is honestly not my best skill. Often I am easily sidetracked, quick to abandon a good plan because something pulls me in another direction.

There is a surprising simplicity to being all in— fully committed to something without fail. No excuses. No exceptions. There are no longer constant choices to be made, just a sharp focus on the goal and a willingness to do whatever it takes. A kinda sorta commitment is exhausting. We may never quite get to our destination, yet we work pretty hard at falling short.

Jack Canfield says it well, “99% is a b*tch, 100% is a breeze.”

As I reflect on some things in my life that I continually struggle with—the same ten pounds for decades, habits I want to change or add to my day, projects I sincerely intend to begin (or finish!)— the missing piece is that measly 1%. Unwavering commitment. Absolute refusal to compromise.

Whatever the desired destination is for each of us, committing at 100% can make all the difference—because once we start making exceptions, our focus becomes blurry. Total commitment leads to completion. And if an obstacle gets in the way (I’m looking at you Yoda), we can ask ourselves a couple simple questions. Am I doing this or not? Do I really want to make this happen? Am I fully committed?

Nothing beats that feeling of joy when we move toward a goal that is important to us, making ourselves better than yesterday. We just need to show up wholeheartedly. Every. Single. Time.

We’ve got this.

“If you commit to nothing, you’ll be distracted by everything.” James Clear

Yoda:)