Renewing My Commitment to Ambitions
I have big ambitions. But I’ve come to realize that achieving those ambitions requires more than just intention—it demands commitments and sacrifices aligned with their magnitude. After reflecting on my current commitments, I’ve reached a clear conclusion: they’re not at the level necessary to truly pressure me toward success.
At 84 days into my latest set of commitments, I’ve made decent progress. Yet, I feel it’s time to ratchet up the pressure—to gradually increase the intensity in a way that leaves no room for retreat. Much like the ratchet tool that only tightens, every step forward will make backtracking impossible. Once the pressure is applied, I either move forward, or I fail.
So, what am I going to do?
Commitment #1: Water Intake
I need to drink a minimum of 12 cups of water per day. Despite knowing this, I often fall short. To address this, I’m starting with a small but specific commitment: drinking 2 cups of water at the start of each day. As I build consistency, I’ll gradually add 2 more cups at trigger points throughout the day until I reach the full 12.
I’ve succeeded at this before, maintaining this habit for a full year, but I let it slide. It’s time to bring it back!
Commitment #2: Morning Prayer and Meditation
A 30-minute session of prayer and meditation each morning has been transformative for me in the past. It’s a time to quiet my mind, reflect, and address the pressures weighing on me. However, I’ve let the seriousness of this practice fade.
To restart, I’ll begin with just 5 minutes each morning, focusing on consistency over duration. Gradually, I’ll ratchet this up until I’m dedicating the full 30 minutes daily.
Commitment #3: End-of-Day Reflection
One of the most powerful aspects of my original 365 Commitment was the end-of-day review—a time to reflect and identify unresolved thoughts. Somehow, I’ve let this habit fall away.
To restart, I’m committing to writing down what’s still on my mind at the end of each day in my notebook. This simple step will serve as the foundation for a more structured evening routine, which I’ll eventually build out with a detailed checklist.
Commitment #4: The PSS +1 Challenge
This challenge was one of the hardest and most rewarding commitments I’ve ever undertaken. Back when I completed the original 365 days, I was in the best shape of my life. I had dropped to 185 pounds with noticeable muscle definition and a significantly improved running pace.
Now, I’m starting it again. The structure is simple: today, I’ll do 1 pushup, 1 situp, and 1 squat. Tomorrow, I’ll do 2 of each. By the end of the year, I’ll be doing 365 pushups, situps, and squats in a single session. The ratchet is built in, and I’ve already completed day one. Wish me luck!
Commitment #5: Writing Every Day
I have a significant project I’m working on, a topic known only to me. My goal is to complete this by the end of 2025. The only way to achieve this is to write on it every single day.
I’ve created an Evernote notebook and set a timer for this purpose. I’ll begin with just 5 minutes daily, steadily increasing the duration over time. This project matters to me, and it’s time to treat it with the commitment it deserves.
Commitment #6: Rebuilding My Memory Palace
Years ago, I built a robust memory palace—a mental structure that allowed me to memorize and retain information with ease. Over time, however, I’ve let it decay. Now, it feels like a crumbling ruin.
Starting today, I’m dedicating 5 minutes each evening to rebuilding and practicing my memorization skills. Even if it feels tedious or challenging, I’ll commit to this small daily effort.
Commitment #7: Run
I love running. It’s transformed my life in countless ways, physically and mentally. However, I’ve allowed myself to slow down far too much. It’s time to ratchet up the running.
I’m starting small: 1 mile per day, timed. My first goal is to hit a specific pace for that mile, and once I achieve it, I’ll increase to 2 miles. I expect it will only take a few weeks to regain my 1-mile pace, but my bigger goal is to get back to running 5 miles at a 7-minute-per-mile pace—a level I maintained just a year ago.
Ultimately, I want to be able to sustain a 100-mile run. Training for that will require a slow, gradual approach, mixing sprint work with a few long runs each week. But for now, the first step is clear: rebuild my pace, one mile at a time. Here goes.
Moving Forward
This is where I stand today: recommitting to proven practices and ratcheting up the pressure step by step. Each of these commitments is a small, manageable step, but together, they form a powerful system for growth.
Ambition isn’t achieved in leaps—it’s earned through daily action, incremental progress, and an unwavering commitment to improvement. I’m ready to take on this challenge, one ratchet click at a time.
Let’s see where these next 365 days take me.
