The moment of commitment

The universe is on your side!

For over three decades now, I’ve been asking this question in my seminars: "Who was a smoker for at least 10 years, smoked at least two packs a day, stopped instantly, and has never smoked again since the day they stopped?"

The hands pop up and a volunteer is often asked to share their story. One woman shared with us that her eight-year-old daughter had come home from school one day in tears. When asked what happened, the little girl sobbed, "I don’t want you to die, Mommy!"

Puzzled, the mother asked the child why she would think that.

The little girl replied: "My teacher told us how smoking kills people, and you smoke a lot, and I don’t want you to die."

A hush came over the room. The woman went on to tell us that she immediately ran to her purse, took out her cigarettes and lighter, and in front of her daughter, threw them in the trash and said: "Mommy will never smoke again." She had decided at that exact moment to quit forever, and she did!

Another memorable story was from Irv, who stood up in front of the group for his interview, and showed me his tie clip made up of three pennies glued to a tie bar.

He said: "That’s why I quit, Joel. I’m cheap! They raised the price of cigarettes some 22 years ago by three cents. I said to myself: Irv, no way are you paying more for cigarettes. So I decided to quit right then, and my life so much changed for the better. I made this tie clip as a reminder that I can do whatever I decide to do!"

Two different stories, one common thread—they both DECIDED TO! And then it hit me. When asked why they quit smoking; almost EVERYONE would use the words "I decided to." Not "My doctor said I should" or "My spouse told me to." It was "I decided."

In follow-up questions to these ex-smokers I’d also ask: "In all the years you smoked, did you ever try to stop before that experience?"

Once again the replies were consistent. "Oh, hundreds of times!"

Then, I’d say: "Why do you think that one experience—your daughter’s fears or a three cent price increase—was different?" Again the replies were consistent.

"Because on that day I decided!"

Wow, that was a big AH-HA for everyone in the audience!

Then one more question is asked. “How difficult was it to stop once you decided to?”

Amazingly most of them would reply: “It was so easy! I couldn’t believe it!”

Why…? Because they decided to! They made the commitment to themselves.

Goethe, the German writer and philosopher, said this: “At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you!”

Here’s what you can do:

Decide to! Whatever it is in your life you’d like to improve—make the commitment to do it.
Avoid fooling yourself with “I’ll try to.” Trying isn’t deciding to. Drop “try” or “want to” or “wishing to”…just decide to do it!
Trust in the wisdom of what Goethe said. Whatever your quest may be—stopping some unhealthy addiction, losing weight or increasing your fitness, learning a foreign language, learning to dance or becoming richer—just “decide to” and then watch how the universe conspires to assist you!

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The moment of commitment

The universe is on your side!