A Commitment to Commitment:

Those of us with disabilities and those of us “on disability” do not have a monopoly on getting distracted and not getting enough done.  But, because we have some justification for not working it can make it easier for many of us to avoid, or at least delay, productive activity.

I have heard retirees talk about the same dilemma.  For anyone without a boss checking on their activities it can be easy to fill days with “interesting things” but feel unsatisfied in the end.

I have always found that focusing my efforts and working consistently toward a goal feels good and helps me to feel better physically too.  So how do we find that focus?  For me it seems to be a “one day at a time” pursuit and is helped by

• Making honest commitments,
• Setting alarms and
• Having “check-digits”

There are some pursuits where I have “wanted to want”, but my repeated failures to make progress indicate that my actual commitment is lacking.  When I have found myself facing these situations (losing weight? writing letters, stories or blogs? exercising?) it has helped me to first ask myself the “why?” questions.   If I am honest about why I want to do something and why I am not doing it yet, that action alone has helped me to achieve more.  When I think about why I really want to do something and write it down it helps me to create more honest commitments.

In a time management class, I was once taught to “time-activate” tasks – namely to set “when” or “by when” time limits for our commitments.  Over time I have learned the value of setting alarms on my cellphone and calendar to remind me of what I should be doing.

And then, even when I’ve set up honest, time-activated commitments, I know that I need ways to check the proverbial columns of numbers that I‘m adding to make sure that they are right.  I have a history of accepting “good-enough” actions that don’t get me to my goals.  So I’ve learned that I need honest checks of my work.  When we commit to showing our results to someone else, a “check-digit”, it can be harder to avoid the truth.  These individuals or organizations are not our bosses, but they can help us by serving the same function.

I have had difficulty sitting down and working through writing the blogs that I want to have on my website. (And, yes, I have written down my “whys” and “why not”s)

Today I am making an honest commitment to write 1 blog each week for Your Accessible Life and to post my latest blog by Sunday evening each week.

You are my check-digits and I will work to show you great results each week from now on!  Thank you for your help!