Redefining Commitment: Your Actions Tell the Real Story
How many times have you promised yourself to start a new habit, pursue a goal, or make a change — only to find yourself falling short? You’re not alone. Recently, I encountered a perspective-shifting definition of commitment that completely changed how I think about promises, actions, and results.
Discover how your results — not your words — reveal your true commitments and learn to bridge the gap between intention and impact.
Like many, I had always viewed commitment as a declaration of intent — a promise of future action. But while reading “The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership” by Jim Dethmer, I discovered a radically different perspective that challenges this conventional wisdom:
“Commitment is a statement of what is. You can know your commitments by your results, not by what you say your commitments are. We are all committed. We are all producing results. Conscious leaders own their commitments by owning their results.”
This definition is striking in its simplicity and power: commitment isn’t about what we say we’ll do — it’s about what we actually do. Consider this: If you say you’re committed to health but haven’t exercised in months, what are you really committed to? If you claim writing is a priority but haven’t touched your manuscript in weeks, what does that reveal about your true commitments?
The Reality Gap: Where Intentions Meet Actions
The gap between our stated intentions and our actual results is where the truth of our commitments lies. It’s easy to declare goals and set intentions — we do it every New Year’s Eve. But look around any gym in February, and you’ll see how quickly those “commitments” can fade.
This isn’t about blame or shame. It’s about honest self-reflection. Every result in our lives, whether desired or not, reflects a commitment we’ve made through our actions:
- The state of our health reflects our real commitments to diet and exercise
- Our relationships show our true commitments to connection and communication
- Our career progress reveals our actual commitments to growth and excellence
Bridging the Gap: From Intention to Impact
Understanding this reality is powerful, but transforming it requires support. This is where mentorship becomes invaluable, offering two essential functions that help turn noble intentions into tangible results.
1. Forethought: Creating Meaningful Commitments
A skilled mentor helps shape commitments that matter, working with you to:
- Define truly meaningful and achievable goals
- Identify available resources and opportunities
- Anticipate potential obstacles
- Draw from experience to ensure commitments will produce tangible results, not just feel-good declarations
For example, instead of saying, “I want to be more productive,” a mentor might help you commit to specific, measurable actions like implementing a daily planning routine or dedicating the first two hours of each day to your most important task.
2. Accountability: Turning Commitments into Results
Forethought alone isn’t enough — accountability completes the equation. Through regular check-ins and honest dialogue, a mentor:
- Holds you accountable for your stated commitments
- Helps develop your sense of self-accountability
- Guides you in becoming someone who naturally owns their results
A Personal Journey: One of my mentors helped me transform my “commitment to be more productive” from a vague intention into concrete results by reframing it into a commitment “to have more energy and clarity,” creating a series of new daily habits to fuel my energy, restructuring my todo list to use that energy efficiently, and then using the newfound energy and time to expand my professional network to discover how I create value for others. Nine months later, my productivity had significantly increased.
The Path Forward
Whether you work with a mentor or not, this redefinition of commitment offers a powerful lens for self-reflection and growth. Start by examining the results in your life — they tell the true story of your commitments. Then ask yourself:
- What results am I currently creating?
- What do these results say about my real commitments?
- What new results do I want to create?
- What commitments would those results require?
Your actions, not your words, tell the real story of your commitments. What story are you writing with your results today?
If you found this perspective valuable, share it with others who might benefit from redefining their approach to commitment. If you’re ready to transform your commitments into results, reach out to explore the power of mentoring in your journey.
