Photo by Andre Gaulin
Thought for the Week: Commitment Takes Courage
“Have you ever committed yourself to something without realizing it would permanently alter the course of your life?” ~The Wishing Map
Planning is making a list of ‘Things to do at the Island.’ Commitment is burning the ship you sailed in on. It takes raw courage to commit to something or someone and stay committed. But it’s also the only way anything of any real value is ever accomplished. Because there is no accomplishment without commitment, and no commitment without courage. Courage is the air that commitment breaths.
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“Commitment is healthiest when it is not without doubt, but in spite of doubt.”
~Rollo May“There was a moment when I changed from an amateur to a professional. I assumed the burden of a profession, which is to write even when you don’t want to, don’t much like what you’re writing, and aren’t writing particularly well.”
~Agatha Christie“There cannot be relationships unless there is commitment, unless there is loyalty, unless there is love, patience, persistence.”
~Cornel West“(Marriage) demands the courage to move into all the risks of freedom, and the risk of love which is permanent; into that love which is not possession but participation.”
~Madeleine L’Engle“If you had started doing anything two weeks ago, by today you would have been two weeks better at it.”
~John Mayer“The trouble with deep belief is that it costs something. And there is something inside me, some selfish beast of a subtle thing that doesn’t like the truth at all because it carries responsibility.”
~Donald Miller“The level of success you achieve will be in direct proportion to the depth of your commitment.”
~Roy T. Bennett
In full agreement with Madeleine, loving and marrying takes courage and commitment. I made that commitment 33 years ago, we were both committed and lived a happy marriage – in three days, it will be 15 years that I have kept my husband in my heart.
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These are awesome quotes to start the week.
Loved these quotes, Mitch. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure, Nigel.
I seem to have the mindset of John Mayer! I feel the same way. Thanks, Mitch.
My pleasure, Melanie.
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Great quotes, Mitch. I really like the perspective of the ‘progression’ and quantitative difference of planning to commitment. And L’Engle’s phrase: “…love which is not possession but participation.”
And there’s always a price to pay!
Excellent quotes, as always, Mitch!
That last quote from Roy T. Bennett is a keeper, Mitch. Yep!
Thanks so much. 💝
I agree, Vicki. Bennett’s quote is powerful.
My pleasure, Vicki. 🧡
❤️😉❤️
My friend Jim always used o tell me that the chicken was present for the scrambled eggs on my plate. The bacon meant the pig was committed…
The Agatha Christie quote really hit home for me. Even after twenty-plus years of writing, it’s still hard for me to commit to it every day, especially when I don’t feel like doing it and I’m not at my best. It’s easy to do it when you’re inspired, of course, but sticking with it when it’s difficult is so much harder.
But necessary, wouldn’t you agree, Owen?
I would — absolutely! Now I just have to do it. 🙂
Commitment is patience too?
Definitely, Iba. Patience says, “Keep going.”
Much food for thought.
Thank you.
My pleasure, Stan.
You express this idea with such quiet strength — the way commitment isn’t just a decision, but a kind of steady courage we grow into. Your reflections often distill big truths into simple, grounded lines, and this one felt especially clear and resonant. Revisiting it today was a reminder of how your writing encourages readers to pause and realign.
Thank you, Kash.
Christie’s honesty here is striking — that moment when writing shifts from inspiration to responsibility. It’s such a clear reminder that the real craft begins when we show up even without the spark. This quote captures the quiet discipline behind creativity, and you’ve framed it in a way that makes the truth land gently but firmly.
A hearty “Amen” to commitment; among other things that it does: it keeps marriages together! 💗
It takes great courage.
Amen! “Courage is the air that commitment breaths.” Love these quotes, Mitch…and your wisdom, dear friend. ❤️
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