Enthusiasm versus Commitment

Enthusiasm is an emotion. Commitment is an intellectual process and decision.

Emotion produces an energy that will eventually peak and burn out. It is “like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James 1:6).

Commitment does not have energy, it has process. It is resolve. A commitment can only be voided and then replaced by another commitment.

Enthusiasm is like a wildfire, it can go in any direction. Commitment is more like a controlled burn, prescribed, defined and focused.

True, the intellect is affected by sensory and external circumstance. But a commitment can only be voided and replaced with a different commitment. For example, if you have committed to lose weight and then fail, what you have actually done is voided the first committed and replaced it with the commitment to maintain your current life style and circumstance.

Enthusiasm is not will. Will is force applied to what the mind has committed to.

Enthusiasm is a great kick starter and motivator, but do not make it your basis of cause, for it will never produce the desired effect. Commitment is the hypostasis, the substance and foundation, in which to build and accomplish goals.

Bill Hitchcock