Commitment

To commit to something, to someone, is a heroic act in our society.

It is an act of rebellion from the uncountable opportunities we can access.

It is the moment we affirm that we can make a life-reinforcing choice.

That we face our finitude, accept it and use it the best we can.

Consciously committing is what matters.

Because even to not commit is a commitment.

The specific commitments might change over time.

How can you weather storms and learn hard things without commitment?

How can you feel the meaning and importance of your actions if you never entirely choose them?

We are born into commitment. Our existence as babies relies on a clear and non-negotiable decision from our caregivers. It focuses their current and future energy and time on someone they value. Humanity would not exist, and we would be stripped of one of the most intense avenues of being human if we could never commit. Parenthood is just an example; there are plenty of ways to find meaning in what life-affirming opportunities you have around you.

I have spent about 20% of my available cognitive time as a founder of one company.

One single journey took one-fifth of the energy and mental capacity I have in my life. It takes commitment to make it meaningful. This is especially true if you want to take the high-risk journey of starting and driving a deep-tech startup.

How mentally miserable would I have been if I had mainly focused on achieving an outcome and comparing to endless alternatives? It would have been worse and worse over time. The more time and effort into one specific thing, the more the importance of the outcome would have felt daunting—no mention of the clear indicators of lack of control, like the pandemic or global recession.

Why should people start such a journey without certainty about a stereotypical positive outcome, exit and/or massive impact?

My answer lies in embracing finitude and committing to what matters, being aware that there is no time to do everything that matters, and finding there the freedom to commit fully.

Remembering that we will never reach a stage when we feel that we have tested, experienced and felt everything we would like to. That is not only impossible but even not worth aspiring to.

Remembering that spending your energy fully living a journey that is meaningful to you matters infinitely more than all those other uncountable scenarios out there.

Remembering that outcome is a result, not a goal.

Remembering that choice matters:

We can commit to a mission.

We can commit to curiosity and learning, trusting that the hardships will become valuable lessons we treasure for the rest of our lives.

We can commit to nurturing relationships with people that matter to us.

We can commit to doing less but better.

Humanity needs more people to take such stances. It is our best hope to solve our challenges and keep thriving as a species.

And in that, finding a place of meaning, energy and calm.