There is a difference between interest and commitment.  When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient.  When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.

— Ken Blanchard

It doesn’t happen very often.  It was a rare moment of struggle.

It had rained hard all night long.  When the alarm rang at 4:30, I could still hear the splatter on the skylight.  And it was dark.

Should I go out for a run?  Or not?

I carried on this “conversation” with myself until about the third mile in.  Such a waste. Because going out the door in the morning for a run is not an option.  It’s what I do.

Deciding is not part of the equation.  I decided long ago that this was a commitment that I wanted to make for my health and fitness. If I had to face the decision every day about whether I would run or not, I would be exhausted.  And there would be plenty of days that I would “decide” not to to it: because it’s inconvenient; because it’s cold, dark, wet, unpleasant; because I’m feeling tired or achy or fat.

I make no exceptions because exceptions are slippery slopes.

“Successful people adhere to the ‘no exceptions rule’ when it comes to their daily disciplines,” writes Jack Canfield.  “Once you make a 100% commitment to something, there are no exceptions.  It’s a done deal. Nonnegotiable. Case closed! Over and out.”

Once you’ve made a decision about something, you don’t have to go through the whole process of deciding again. You’re not wrestling with it day in and day out.  It’s just something you do. No matter where you are.  Or how you feel.

Like brushing your teeth, says Canfield. Or monogamy. Or diet.

There are so many areas in our lives that might benefit from the ‘no exceptions rule.’

I journal or write.  Every day. No exceptions. I go to the gym. I set aside an hour each day for my creative projects. These are things that are non-negotiable.

We could apply the rule to projects we have at work; goals we want to pursue; places we want to go; things we want to do. Decide once. And move forward.

Leadership expert Brendon Burchard suggests we apply it to time away for ourselves. Once every 90 days, he says, take four days completely off the grid to rest, relax, renew. Do it no matter what. Do it even if you have to turn down other opportunities.

Just do it.

There’s a reason Nike’s overused slogan so resonates for us: there’s truth in it.

“It makes life easier and simpler and keeps me on focus,” says Canfield. “It frees up tons of energy that would otherwise be spent internally debating the topic over and over and over, because all the energy I expend on internal conflict is unavailable to use for creating other achievement.”

Our creative work, the work of our souls, requires action. Constant, focused, massive action. Struggle is the serpent’s voice.

So stop the struggle. Decide. On your commitment to health; on your commitment to fitness; on your commitment to service; on your commitment to giving; on your commitment to the life you want to live. Decide once and for all.

Then, as Admiral David Faragut once said, “Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead.”

Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

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