During a few of our recent classes, Jack has been talking about how "Commitment is easier". At first this does not seem to make sense, surely if you commit to doing something, then you must now go through with the effort of making it happen. That doesn't sound easy. You might also lose the ability to fill your life with others things. Again, not easy.
The point was though, that it was 'easier' than indecisiveness. For example, we could explore a persons commitment to martial arts training. If they are not really committed, then on a class night they must decide "should I go to class or...." followed by an almost infinite number of alternatives. A truly committed student will not need to make this decision, they already know it is a class night and what they must do. The student will not be concerned with the 'what' to do, but the 'how' to do it. Goal based decision making rather than constantly changing the goals themselves.
This also applies in relationships. What if a man were to constantly concern himself with whether his partner is attractive enough, smart enough, kind enough and supportive enough. Out of the billions of women on earth "which" woman is the best for him? Rather than finding a good and worthwhile partner with which to make things work long term, he must wake up every morning and reassure himself that he has not made a mistake. This kind of life must surely become a torment.
Similarly, a martial art student may be torn between different expressions of martial art. Different styles, different teachers, different perspectives. They may even try to create a collage or hodgepodge of various different forms they are dabbling in, because they are constantly fearful that their 'system' does not have everything. Instead of finding a good teacher in a bonafide martial art and committing to a lifetime of study, they must constantly evaluate their inventory and decide what they will study next. Again, this can become a torment.
Commitment IS easier.
