by Michael White
Is ‘fear of commitment’ holding young professionals back? That was the topic of conversation at the Thurston County Chamber’s weekly YPN Smart Talk series on Mon., Mar. 27 at the Hotel RL Olympia.
Kevin Stahl led a conversation about fear of commitment. Fear of commitment holds young professionals back for a number of reasons. Defining the individual fears they face is key to understanding how they can grow professionally. Some fear the loss of security, for others it’s the loss of freedom or having to trust others with responsibility. The potential emotional, physical or financial loss, inherent to risks, prevents young professionals from committing to new endeavors or long term responsibilities.
The group agreed that everyone has suffered from fear of commitment in one way or another-with both large and small commitments. Some tips to consider were to always keep the end goal in mind, and break down the commitment into smaller pieces. It’s easier to commit to a personal goal that can be achieved through daily actions rather than one large goal to be completed in one chunk. Lastly, and probably the biggest hurdle young professionals face, is comparing themselves to others who have already found success. Young professionals need to set their own commitments based on their situations and their talents, and let other successful individuals inspire them, but not set the standard for success.
Join the young professionals every Monday, starting at 12:00 in the Hotel RL dining area for their weekly SMART Talk roundtable discussions.
