Commitment is an intentional action in language that brings into existence something that wasn’t there before. Without commitment, we could not coordinate actions, run enterprises or engage in normal social interactions (such as meeting someone for coffee). What people produce is a product of, and only a product of, what they’re committed to producing; even not acting is an affirmation of commitment.

Commitments simultaneously open particular possible futures and close other ones. They are neither right nor wrong. However, they do create expectations on the part of others and can impact the choices they have and how they perceive their future. Not all commitments are conscious or volitional; many are historical and live and occur in our practices and habitual behaviours.