The beginning of the year is a prime time for goal setting. I’m sure you have a short list of resolutions like most people do. Normally, in January, I have several post-its peppered with all of the things I want to accomplish in the New Year stuck all around my desk. But this year I decided to give up on goal setting.

Yep. You read that right. No more goal setting for me. Ever. Now, before you suggest I meet with a pastor, counselor or life coach let me explain myself. A few weeks ago my husband came home from work with a new perspective that I quickly adopted too. His boss said something I found profound:

“I don’t believe in goals, I believe in commitments. If I set a goal and I don’t reach it I blame it on circumstances. But if I make a commitment to myself that I am going to do something then I do whatever it takes to make it happen.”

Hmmm. Holding to a philosophy like that really forces you to differentiate between dreams and plans. For instance, in high school I dreamed of being senior class president. Since it involved forces out of my control I couldn’t actually make that dream come true—so calling it a goal was really misnaming it.

However, I could plan to implement the best campaign strategy I knew how and see what happened from there. That was something I could commit to. Do you see the difference? Choosing to make commitments in place of setting goals requires you to be an active participant in changing your circumstances.  

A philosophy like this also makes you break long-term goals down into bite-sized commitments that are achievable. I’ve always dreamed of running a half-marathon, but the problem is I’m not a runner—or at least not a consistent (or fast) one. So instead of leaving that aspiration dangling on my list of things I’ve always wanted to do but will probably never attempt, I decided to commit to myself (and my husband and my dad) that I will run a 10K in 2010. That’s half way to a half-marathon.

So I’m currently training on a 5K schedule and will switch to the 10K schedule when I feel ready. When I feel like quitting I simply have to remind myself that I committed to do this—and my word is on the line.

Making commitments and keeping them will teach you a lot about yourself. Four- plus years ago when Michael and I got married he decided he wanted to go back to school and complete his degree. It wasn’t a goal. It was a commitment. And we also committed to doing it without going into debt.

Consistently for the last four years I’ve watched my husband sacrifice golf outings with his buddies, time with me and even incredible work and ministry opportunities so he could study and continue keeping the commitment he made to complete his degree.

Staying true to our commitment to put him through school without debt has also taken the same type of tenacity and determination. That story also merits its own post on the sometimes miraculous ways God provided, but there were times when we had to forfeit new clothes, a vacation, Starbucks, movie tickets, eating out and other such luxuries so we could stick to our commitment.

At the end of this month I will write the final tuition check. On April 14^th Michael will hand in his very last paper. And on May 28^th he will cross the stage with the other graduates. On that day we will know he did more than just complete his degree—he will have kept his word and honored a commitment. He will have finished what he said he would do.

Few things compete with the thrill of finishing what you set out to do—especially if unforeseen obstacles popped up along the way and threatened to derail you.

Now, I’ll be honest with you. I am publicly stating on my blog that I commit to run a 10K in 2010 because I need a reason to keep going when I’m out there training and I want to quit. You are now that reason. I’ve given you my word and I’ve made a commitment, and barring any type of medical setback, I intend to keep it—even when I wish I didn’t have to.

What about you. What will you commit to do this year?