Time to Read: 4 mins
Commitment is a virtue. š
Until it becomes a vice. š
If youāre committed toā¦
ā³ the wrong thing
ā³ the wrong person
ā³ the wrong company
ā³ the wrong approach
ā¦it can turn your life inside out.
A client of mine was on the verge of burnoutā¦ but they couldnāt see it. š
Their commitment to their work, which was once admirable, had become a trap that was limiting their overall growth and happiness.
But the voice inside their headā¦ the one commanding their every decisionā¦ told them this commitment was a non-negotiable.
But was it really?
It quickly became evident that there were two things we needed to do:
1ļøā£ Challenge their inner narrative so we could separate fact from story
2ļøā£ Create strategies to help them recalibrate so they could stave off burnout
And one wouldnāt work without the other.
Because if their inner voice wasnāt disrupted, the same beliefs would keep driving the same behavior.
And if their behavior didnāt change, theyād keep reinforcing the same story.
Challenging their inner narrative is a big topicā¦ so I created an entire video around it, which youāll find at the bottom of this newsletter.
But the strategies we used to help them recalibrate proved to be a winning combination, so letās take a closer look at this three-pronged approach.
-----
š§ Establish Boundaries
Managing their time and energy more efficiently was essential. This meant setting firm boundaries, re-prioritizing professional commitments, learning to say no, delegating where possible, and recognizing signs of overcommitment before they slid into overwhelm.
Since enforcing boundaries, especially with their boss, was a source of anxiety for them, we created a plan to support them:
They kept a running list (yes, on paper) of their tasks, projects, and responsibilities. Then, when their boss tried to add more, they would simply share the list and ask:
āWhich of these would you like me to de-prioritize?ā
This allowed their boss to see everything they were working on, and empowered them to enforce boundaries without feeling combative. Win-win!
-----
āļø Daily Check-In
They had a habit of moving fast and staying busyā¦ which left no space to reflect or adjust.
So, we integrated a daily self check-in to assess their commitments and ensure they werenāt veering off track.
It was a simple 5-minute process that had them end each day by asking two questions:
- On a scale of 1ā10, how well did I manage my commitments today?
- What will I do differently tomorrow?
It may seem simple, but that small pause created some much-needed awareness. It surfaced patterns in their behavior that they were now empowered to change.
-----
š£ļø Seek Feedback
Itās often difficult to see the forest for the trees.
Thankfully, feedback from others can often fill the gaps.
They opted for a three-point support system: a trusted colleague, their mentor, and me as their coach.
This web of support, which was wrapped in a bubble of psychological safety, allowed them to be open, honest, and vulnerable.
And that combination made it much easier to stay accountable to the changes they were trying to make.
-----
Taken together, these three strategies created a self-leadership trifecta that gave them back the confidence and autonomy needed to thrive.
No longer were they drowning under the weight of unrealistic expectations ā they had a voice, a plan, and the support to make it happen.
Thatās self-leadership in action.
š” Practionable Takeaway
Before you double down on your commitments this weekā¦ take a step back and evaluate them.
Ask yourself:
ā What am I currently committed to thatās no longer serving me?
ā Where am I overextending myself out of habit, expectation, or obligation?
Then choose one place to recalibrate:
- Set a clearer boundary
- Reprioritize what actually matters
- Or simply pause before saying yes
The goal is to start being more intentional about what youāre committing yourself to.
Because commitment isnāt just about what you say yes toā¦
Itās about what that āyesā is costing you.
š„ Want to Go Deeper?
If you start to look at your commitments through this lens, you may notice something interestingā¦
Some of them donāt actually feel like choices.
They feel automatic. Almost like theyāve already been decided.
And thatās becauseā¦ they often have.
Thereās an inner voice thatās quietly influencing what you say yes to, what you avoid, and what you believe is possible.
In this weekās video, I break down how that voice works and coach you through taking back control of it.
You can check it out here.š
|
To Your Success,
Laura šš§”
Responses