Part Two of Five Part Series: The 5C Solution

Commitment Is The Fuel That Moves You Forward

by Cindy Cipriani

Recently the theme of many conversations is uncertainty. People are anxious due to our lives being turned upside down with the pandemic. Business owners are nervously wondering when and how they will re-open after months of stay-at-home orders. Millions of workers have been forced to work at home surrounded by pets, kids, and laundry while millions more are unemployed. Hovering over face masks, young and old alike have fear and fatigue showing in their eyes.

In the last article, which you can read here https://www.karynnesummars.com/e-magazine/cindycipriani, we discovered that finding clarity and confidence is easier when we realize that we learn from change. Clarity is essential when none of the normal rules apply. We all make plans based on history and projections, but this is one of those times when everyone needs to hit the pause button, re-focus and re-invent. The looming question is, How?

Ask yourself three questions:

1.    Who am I now?

2.    Who do I want to be?

3.    What do I need?

Yes, to find clarity in times of change you need to shift from thinking about your circumstances to focusing on your inner core values that drive everything you do. If you are a business owner, do you run your business with honesty and integrity? Why? Probably because these are values that reflect who you are as a person.

When the economy changes, do you change your values or are you committed to stay the course of strong moral and ethical principles?

If you are not working and finances become challenging, do you commit to remaining calm and discussing strategy with your family? Or do you succumb to losing your temper, drowning your anxiety, and creating chaos in your relationships?

The choice that you make in response to your circumstances will depend on your commitment to who you want to be. Think of a time when you said something hurtful in anger and immediately you felt bad about yourself. “That’s not who I am,” probably ran through your mind. We have all been there.

If you commit to remaining the person you want to be, no matter what is happening or who is pressing your buttons, you come away feeling proud. If you are not sure of your core values, you can become stuck in the emotion of change.

With emotions under control, you can narrow down what you need. You may need professional advice about your finances or your business options. You may need emotional support from a friend or supportive relative. There are options available that you can research to help you through this difficult time. Remember, you are never alone, and you are never without options.

Years ago, I was going through a divorce. I was broke and broken. Never in a million years did I think I would be in that position. Pride kept me from asking for help until I had no choice. Then I found out that people were ready, willing and able to lend a hand and show me how to get assistance until I was on my feet again. I needed to move forward because I was in the fight of my life.

One of the people who inspired me was Muhammad Ali. At twelve years old, he started training as a boxer. Six years later he won a gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics. However, his example of commitment did not just come from his boxing success. Ali had become a Muslim and at the height of his career in 1966 as the Vietnam War raged, he stayed true to his beliefs and refused to be drafted into the military. This cost him over four years of boxing as he was banned from the sport. I am not taking sides as to whether he was right or wrong, I am just saying that he was so committed to his beliefs that he did not cave due to pressure, loss of wealth or loss of status.

Clarity keeps you grounded. Commitment is the fuel that moves you forward.

Coming Soon: Part Three of this series will focus on how to overcome the Challenges that you are battling right now.

Watch Cindy and motivational speaker and co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Jack Canfield talk about The 5 C Solution here.