A commitment is a binding pledge that obligates you to assume a position or carry out a course of action.  Making a commitment to what you do-whether in your personal life or your professional life-is one of the most fundamental principles of success.

Commitments are Serious Business

Commitments are powerful because they influence how you think, how you sound, and how you act. Unlike a half-hearted hope or 'best shot,' making a commitment means that you try harder, you look for solutions when faced with obstacles, you don't consider quitting as an option, and you don't look back.

In addition, a meaningful commitment gives you a script for how to handle things when times get tough. And make no mistake, everyone feels like quitting at one time or another. Unfortunately most people quit when they feel like quitting, which is why they seldom succeed at anything.

After working with thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs over my career, I've learned that one of the most distinguishing characteristics of success is the perseverance of commitment.

Whether it's a relationship or marriage, job or career venture, fitness or health, or a personal improvement goal, the temptation to give up will arise. The key is to anticipate it and make yourself a promise that the feeling of wanting to quit will not overpower your commitment.

To Whom and What Are You Committed?

One of the keys to fulfilling your commitments is to not over commit. The number of opportunities and decisions we're faced with on a daily basis increases all the time. This is why it's so important to be selective about what and who you commit to. Given the limits of your time and attention, it's simply not feasible to do everything you would like. Therefore, you must decide what is truly important to you and commit only to those things.

When you only commit to the people and things that are truly important to you, your relationships will improve, you will be more successful in achieving your goals, and you'll have more time to enjoy your journey.

Once you decide to whom and what you are committed, it's imperative that you follow through. When I think of the importance of following through, I'm reminded of the motivational advice of Zig Ziglar:

"It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through."

There are times when you may think that the challenges of fulfilling your commitments aren't worth the hassle, or the effort required is more than you're willing to expend. Remember, however, just like anything worth pursuing, commitments require discipline and often require you to act outside of your comfort zone. Be willing to stand up to the challenges you face by keeping things like your integrity and reputation in mind.

Research has shown that antioxidants in raisins fight the growth of a type of bacteria that can cause inflammation and gum disease. People with gum disease-which affects up to 50 percent of American adults-are twice as likely to suffer from heart problems. So, dealing with one can help people avoid the other. Last summer, a major heart journal and a major periodontal journal simultaneously published a consensus paper that outlines the link between the two diseases: inflammation. As a result, choosing certain foods, such as raisins, may help you protect both your gums and your heart.

People who eat plenty of whole grains tend to be leaner and have a lower risk of heart disease than those who don't. This is probably because whole grains contain antioxidants, phytoestrogens and phytosterols that are protective against coronary disease.

The fiber in whole grains also has its benefits: various studies link a high-fiber diet with a lower risk of heart disease. In a Harvard study of female health professionals, people who ate a high-fiber diet had a 40 percent lower risk of heart disease than those who ate a low-fiber diet.

Aim to include plenty of foods that are rich in soluble fiber, which, studies show, can help lower "bad" LDL. Soluble fiber binds bile acid, a key component in fat digestion that our bodies make from cholesterol. We can't digest fiber, so when bile acids are bound to it, they get ushered out of the body as waste. This causes the body to convert more cholesterol into bile acids, which ultimately has the effect of lowering circulating cholesterol levels. Foods high in soluble fiber include oatmeal, barley, beans, okra and eggplant, and citrus fruit, such as oranges.

Eating beans regularly is good for your heart, and you don't need to eat a lot of them to benefit. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition suggests having just 1/2 cup of cooked pinto beans daily might lower cholesterol. Soluble fiber is a key reason why, says Philip Ades, M.D., author of the EatingWell for a Healthy Heart Cookbook (The Countryman Press, 2008). "Like all foods that contain a lot of soluble fiber, beans help bind cholesterol and keep it from being absorbed in the gut," he explains. And, as the fiber is fermented, it produces changes in short-chain fatty acids that can inhibit cholesterol formation. (By-products of this same fermentation process are what cause the gas so often associated with eating beans.) Other components in beans also may be responsible for the cholesterol-lowering effect. Beans contain a variety of heart-protective chemicals, including flavonoids, compounds also found in wine, berries and chocolate, that inhibit the adhesion of platelets in the blood, which can help lower risk for heart attack and strokes.