Commitment versus Complacency

Commitment based upon urgency, determination and passion guarantees success.

Urgency is necessary for success.  The opposite of urgency is complacency.  Complacency will not result in success.  Too often people are complacent.

Success is not possible unless there is urgency in your life!  Is there some part of your life where you are complacent? Is there some part of your life where you need to act with urgency?

We become complacent in relationships, until urgency is precipitated by conflict, painful emotions and separation.  Although we know the dangers of overeating, smoking or drinking too much, we are complacent and continue to indulge.  Complacency gives way to urgency, when a doctor has to intervene or our lives fall apart.

When you are sick and tired of living your life the way you are, you are feeling the roots of urgency.  Feeling dissatisfaction and discomfort in your life is not sufficient to develop urgency.

In addition to dissatisfaction, you must make and maintain a courageous decision to change your life.  You really have to want a different life!

You don't have to know exactly how to do change your life.  You just need to have urgency, passion and determination to do what is necessary to change your life and your circumstances.

Yesterday I shared with you the marvelous, factual recovery of Steve Rom from leukemia and the life-changing impact his friend and coach, Rod Payne had on Steve's life.  Rod was a college, All-American center at the University of Michigan and professional football player with a Super Bowl ring.  Steve was a reporter who became ill with leukemia. 

On Steve's web site, Play to Inspire, he described his decision to avoid complacency when he responded with urgency regarding his poor medical care.  He was a patient at a university research hospital.  His so-called "team of doctors" was not providing good medical care for him.  He wrote, "they dropped the ball-- big time".

Steve talked to Dr. Foreman, the director of oncology, from City of Hope.  Steve believed, "I felt this was my last opportunity to state my case, to sell myself, that I was worthy of living".

Steve told Dr. Foreman, "I'm a winner.  I have goals and things I want to achieve.  And all these people around me are losers.  And I think they're going to kill me.  I know you guys are winners.  You're the leading institute in what you do.  I want to team up with you.  If you take me on as part of your team, I guarantee you I'll represent the attitude of success that you represent."

Soon, Steve was in City of Hope under the care of Dr. David Snyder.  Noticing that Steve was a sportswriter, the doctor talked about sports for a while with Steve.  Then Dr. Snyder said to him, "Steve, hang on.  I'll carry you to the end zone."

Five months later, Steve went back to the Michigan and the life he wanted to achieve.

Maybe your circumstances are not as dire as Steve's were and maybe they are.  Even if you circumstances are not life-threatening, it is still important to replace complacency with urgency in your life.  Why wait until your complacency results in catastrophe?

Now is the time for you to make a commitment to change your life, if you feel you are too complacent!  Assemble your team, your coach and do what is necessary to take care of you.

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach