Doing what you say

The other night around seven o’clock I sat down to read East of Eden. I was getting towards the end and wanted to finish it so I promised myself that I would read fifty pages before I went to sleep.

Before I knew it, it was almost ten o’clock. I had gone to check the mail and texted some friends and whatever else, I don’t know. I had only read six pages of the book.

Then I said to myself, “Well, I still need to cook dinner.” I ate dinner and got tired and said to myself, “Maybe I’ll just go to sleep and read more of the book tomorrow.”

I lose sight of my ‘why,’ my deeper purpose.

I rationalize that the goal is not essential to my purpose.

I think maybe I’ll just push back the deadline.

I tell myself I need to be relaxed and healthy, not always so determined and gritty.

I give into my desires for sleep, pleasure, and social life.

I allow short-term feelings to supersede my long-term goals.

“Commitment is doing what you said you would, long after the mood you said it in has left.” — Inky Johnson