There is a fascinating, tremendously difficult, and perfectly rewarding question: in a world of infinite possibility, how do we choose what to commit to?
The Lucubrators is a collection of resources aimed at trying to answer this question.
Here are a few things we’ve learned about commitment over time:
- Commitment > Hustle
- Commitment just for the sake of commitment is silly.
- Commitment comes from a place of “want,” not “should.” Most of the journey is about uncovering and naming that “want.”
- The journey of commitment is a journey of faith (faith in yourself, faith in others, faith in the world).
- The form commitment takes is meant to evolve over time.
- People overcommit for the same reasons they over- anything else (e.g., overeat, overwork, overcriticize).
- The goal of commitment is to solidify certain traits, habits, and beliefs. This makes life easier and more fun.
- Un-committing, just like any detachment, is a process of grief. Many are scared of this, but it is a method of healing.
- The process of planning is a tool that helps us honor commitments
People find things to commit to in a variety of ways:
- Some ideas for commitment originate internally
- Ideas for improving something; problem-solving
- Creative ideas; need for expression
- Healing; comfort
- Curiosity; impulse
- Caretaking
- Questions
- Some ideas for commitment originate externally
- Individual asks from others
- Societal asks (e.g., taxes)
- Natural events
- Pressure to conform (e.g., in appearance, behavior)
- Pressure to follow advice
We hope that the resources you’ll find on The Lucubrators will help you commit in a life-affirming way.