Commitments by Design
Have you ever found yourself lost in a sea of commitments, wondering how you got there in the first place?
Do you feel like you’re constantly chasing inspiration, accountability, and connection, but end up feeling overloaded and overwhelmed?
This realization hit me when I thought about the number of membership communities I was in and what was expected in some of them. Basically, I found myself running headfirst into the realization that I was doing too much. I was overloaded and overwhelmed, and I wasn’t sure how to get back on track.
I used to think that being part of different communities was great because I was getting something from each of them. Then, I realized that I was spread too thin and not seeing the results I hoped for.
The problem was that I wasn’t always following my inner authority and was joining communities for what might’ve been a good reason, just the wrong time.
If you tend to overcommit to something, whether it’s membership communities or something else, you’re most likely neglecting your natural decision-making process also known as your inner authority.
When you’re not paying attention to your inner authority, you make decisions that you either end up regretting later or flake on and then wonder why you can’t commit or get it together.
Here are a few signs to look for according to your Human Design that will let you know when you’re on the verge of making a decision that might not be the best decision for you right now.
Emotional Authority — Making an emotionally charged decision instead of waiting for your emotions to neutralize.
Sacral Authority — Ignoring your body’s response or lack thereof to the decision-making question.
Splenic Authority — Making a decision in response to being fearful of something.
Ego Authority — Allowing shame or guilt to be the decision-maker instead of doing what you really want to do.
Self-Authority — Getting caught up in achieving something instead of placing value on what feels most aligned to you at that moment.
Mental Authority — Thinking too much and not paying attention to how your words make you feel emotionally and physically.
Lunar Authority — Making decisions without spending time alone in a supportive environment so you can recenter into your own energy.
Now, if you’ve already bypassed your inner authority (intentional or just unaware) and you’re facing the what was I thinking reflection point; here are some ways you can prioritize your communities.
Evaluate the benefits you’re getting from each community (commitment) — Take the time to assess which communities you are part of and prioritize the ones that are most important to you. Make sure you are able to give your full attention to at least one, rather than spreading yourself too thin.
Be intentional — Create a plan for how you will manage your time and commitments to the different communities you are part of. Set aside specific times each day or week to focus on each one and make sure you are able to fulfill your commitments.
What do/did you hope to accomplish when you committed — Take advantage of any accountability tools or resources that are available to you within the communities you are part of — this could include using the forums on the website, scheduling check-ins with members, setting reminders, or writing progress reports.
Follow your inner authority before making decisions — What a perfect time to be more tuned into your inner authority even as you decide which communities to prioritize and which activities to join in on.
Having too many commitments take away from the value and connections that different opportunities can bring. It reminds me of a quote I once heard that says, “It’s not commitment overload but filter failure”.
Your time and energy are valuable resources. Use them wisely and stay true to what’s most aligned with you.
