Commitment is the Constraint That Sets You Free

I don’t do moderation.
Commitment is my sword.
And I wield it on a daily basis to slay whatever dragons cross my path.
Recently, my clients and readers have been asking me a lot of questions about the relationship between commitment and creativity. And although I’ve already written extensively on topics like stick-to-itiveness and playing for keeps and treating commitment as a technique, there’s still another facet of this philosophy that’s worth exploring.
I’m reminded of one of my favorite books, The Art of Looking Sideways. Famed visual designer Alan Fletcher stated, “The first move in any creative process is to introduce constraints.”
For me, that constraint is commitment. And it sets me free creatively.
Here’s how:
Commitment is freedom from quality. When you’ve committed to doing something everyday, there’s no stress about being perfect or right or even good. Because you’re just going to be back tomorrow. Today, it’s about focusing on quantity and continuity, trusting that everything else will take care of itself.
Commitment is freedom from choice. When you’ve committed to doing something everyday, there’s no wasting brain cells trying to figure out what to do. Because you’ve already made your own decision and met your own standards. Today, it’s about getting on with your life and getting to work.
Commitment is freedom from results. When you’ve committed to doing something everyday, there’s no finish line in sight. Because you’re not playing to win, you’re playing to keep the game going. Today, it’s about the journey, not the destination, which allows you to be fully present with the activity at hand.
Commitment is freedom from inhibition. When you’ve committed to doing something everyday, there’s no limitations on taking shots and missing. Because you’re just going zero out your board when you play tomorrow anyway. Today, it’s about suiting up, hanging your balls out there and hitting it with all you’ve got.
Commitment is freedom from pressure. When you’ve committed to doing something everyday, there’s no need to put all your eggs in one basket. Because you’re distributing your effort into small, consistent, doable increments. Today, it’s about the daily practice, not the big game at the end of the season.
Commitment is freedom from focus. When you’ve committed to doing something everyday, the daily measure of time and consistency builds compounding interest. Because you’ve established a gentle flow that obfuscates procrastination. Today, it’s about cadence and rhythm and momentum.
That’s my sword. The constraint that sets me free.
What’s yours?