Sowing the Seeds of Intention: Step 3 - Stepping Fully (and Easily!) into Commitment

An acronym to help keep elephants safe.

In steps one and two of Sowing the Seeds of Intention, you explored and clarified your heart's deepest calling at this time. You crafted a powerful vision statement, capturing all you would receive from living this vision. Now, it's time to step fully into the commitment to create it.

Here's an excerpt from my forthcoming book, Mindful and Intentional Living: A Path to Peace, Clarity and Freedom to explain more:

“Commitment is an act, not a word.”  ~Jean-Paul Sartre

If you felt a little quiver in your stomach when you read it was time to commit, then you’re not alone. Many of us get a little nervous when it comes to commitment, but a commitment is really just devoting ourselves to a cause or an activity that has meaning for us. It’s a dedicated undertaking toward our deepest desires and is reinforced through our actions:

Desire => Intention => Commitment => Action

When we create a vision that aligns with our head, heart and body, commitment is really just stepping into the real you—the best you you can be. Commitment is a choice to trust in yourself and your vision.

Even though your vision aligns with your deepest intention for yourself, you may get nervous because you don’t know how to get there. That’s okay! We’re just setting our direction and committing to move forward. Remember the difference between intention and expectation? We’re at the intention part. We’re setting a compass direction and taking the first step, being as clear and present as possible. We don’t know where it will take us, and we’ll probably navigate through a few course corrections, but we’re dedicated to the intention and are stepping into action through commitment.

“You always have two choices: your commitment versus your fear.”  ~Sammy Davis, Jr.

If your vision is highly attuned with your values and deeper heart calling, your commitment just about makes itself. Of course you’re going to head in that direction. Of course you’re going to take steps.

On the way, as obstacles and life circumstances get in our way—and they will—our commitment says, “I’m not going to stop trying.” Our commitment says, “I’m willing to take a look at anything that is getting in my way.”

“Courage is the commitment to begin without any guarantee of success.” ~ JoHann Wolfgang von Goethe

Are you ready?

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~JoAnn Saccato, MA, is a mindfulness teacher, life coach, author and consultant. Mindfulness is the popular health and wellness practice based on purposefully paying kind, non-judgmental attention to direct experience. It is a scientifically proven approach that helps reduce stress and stress-related illnesses, increases focus and attention, decreases incidences of and relapses with depression, reduces anxiety, reduces relapses in addiction, and aids in sleep and digestive disorders. It has also been shown to increase well being, life satisfaction and happiness, as well as improved social relationships. You can reach her at [email protected]