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70 Examples of Personal Commitment

John Spacey, updated on August 23, 2024

Personal commitment is the ability to do what you say and try to achieve goals over time. This doesn't mean that you always achieve every goal and every deadline without ever failing. It is more about the sustained effort and attention that you put into the things that you have promised to yourself and others.

Definition of Personal Commitment

The capacity to live up to personal principles, keep promises and achieve goals.

Personal commitment relates to your ability to live according to the standards that you set for yourself and to work towards the goals that you set. It also relates to the promises and commitments that you make to others. These three components are summarized below.

Components of Personal Commitment

1. Aligning behavior to principles.

2. Achieving goals you set for yourself.

3. Keeping commitments that you make to others.

These are amongst the most valued personal traits as this allows you to gain respect and credibility from others and also to achieve many of the goals that you may set for yourself. The following are common examples of personal commitment.

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Goal Planning

Before you can commit you need to have a purpose and establish some goals. This begins with a human characteristic known as intentionality whereby we have a sense of purpose and are driven to achieve things.

Self-Discipline & Motivation

The ability to stick to a mission or plan from concept to completion. This can be based on motivation whereby you are driven to achieve goals. However, motivation tends to be variable over time and isn't particularly dependable. As such, personal commitment also requires self-discipline whereby you can push through things even when you're not feeling motivated.

Interpersonal Commitment

The capacity to build and sustain relationships and to pursue common purpose with others. This is based on both skills such as conflict resolution and character traits such as openness.

Everybody has plans until they get hit for the first time.
~ Mike Tyson as reported by the The Orangeburg Times and Democrat on August 19, 1987.

The resolve to sustain your efforts in the face of hard work, obstacles, disappointment and failures. Grit does mean that you are mentally strong but doesn't mean that you are stubborn or unable to admit that you need help at times. Part of grit is the determination to find those who can help you to achieve your purpose.