TO-DO LIST: Figure out if you fill your life with more Commitments or more Obligations

As we near the end of 2006 and see the starting line for 2007, many of you will marvel at how quickly time seems to have passed by. In fact, the most precious commodity you have in life is TIME.

So how do you spend yours?

There comes a time in every man’s life when, in the course of your day, you come to an epiphany…You suddenly realize that you’re living someone else’s life… someone else’s agenda. You feel like your day is filled with obligations that someone else assigned to you. Your mental “to-do list” was not written by yourself, but by your boss, your wife, or your parent.

Have you ever felt like that? Well, you don’t have to! You need to find out if you are spending your precious time on obligations or commitments, and what the difference is between the two.So what’s the difference between obligations and commitments anyway?

The difference is your ATTITUDE! You really need to understand WHY you do the things you do every day. Your attitude will change whether you view something as an obligation or a commitment.If you have filled your time with OBLIGATIONS:You choose to live out your precious time in a spirit of proficiency and accountability with a “shut up and do it” attitude. These obligations can be something like paying taxes, or those things you do just because you feel “obligated,” like buying the last round of beers for your friends. You know you’re doing something obligatory when:

- You tend to be short with people
- You may be more aggressive
- You find yourself “keeping score or keeping track”
- You are less concerned with the outcome and just going through the motions

If you have filled your time with COMMITMENTS:You choose to live out your precious time in a spirit of whole hearted “giving,” a pouring out of yourself. With commitment, there is no holding back because you want to give… these can be something like kissing your girlfriend, playing with your kids, or getting the front row at the Christmas parade. You know you are committed when:

- You don’t find yourself “keeping score or keeping track”
- You feel alive!
- You don’t have to “think” or “work” as much
- If you didn’t do it, you would feel that you were wasting your time!

So many of you are struggling with the obligations in your lives. They can really kill your spirit. You can’t seem to understand why you’re so angry, frustrated, void of joy, unable to make a decision, unable to remain peaceful or even enjoy serenity. Obligations are hard work because there is so much accountability. Are you having trouble deciding if you have more obligations or commitments in your life? The difference between the two is the way they align to your goals that you set in your life.

For example, if you never liked kids, and never wanted to be a father, you are probably going to feel obligated to being a dad. You’re also probably obligated to:

- Show up early to and leave late from work
- Pay your taxes
- Abide to the law

But the things you should feel committed to are:

- Your family, your kids, your wife
- Your health
- Your friends
- Your understanding of God

Don’t forget that there is certainly a necessary mix of obligations and commitments in most people’s lives. So Man up! Take a look at your attitude and place more commitments on your daily “to-do” list, as opposed to just obligations. To do that, you have to get to know yourself, who you are, and who you belong to. You need to feel your own strength as a man. It may take some time to reorganize your priorities, but it will all be worth it when you’re checking off that list toward a stronger, more fulfilling, and balanced life!