“Courage is not limited to the battlefield. The real tests of courage are much quieter. They are the inner tests, like enduring pain when the room is empty or standing alone when you’re misunderstood.” Charles Swindoll
So many people were complaining about not having time for this job and that responsibility. It was so bothersome that many were almost immobilized with anxiety. They felt like they just did not have enough energy for anything or anyone. The result was total restraint from accomplishing something.
These individuals believed they did not measure up to others which added more reproach. They believed that if they worked harder or longer or focused more it would make a difference in the outcome.
What actually transpired was they felt defeated. They couldn’t keep going and were going to give up any work they had left undone. It was overwhelming and defeating to the point that they couldn’t continue. If the truth were told, these individuals placed way too much on their shoulders. They didn’t give themselves a break nor did they consider the problems they encountered along their way to success in their endeavors.
It was amazing how on the outside it appeared easy to see that their expectations were high and their considerations to themselves were low. Despite their handicaps they expected more of themselves.
The problem is that we can destroy ourselves in the process because we don’t give ourselves any excuses for failure or lateness in achievement. I know it is admirable to take responsibility but expecting the impossible causes destruction of the mind. Even if we can do it physically, at times mentally it can’t be done.
On days weeks or months like this we need to step back, see the whole forest and not just the tree. Remind ourselves we can’t do the impossible and we do need downtime. Expecting too little of ourselves leads to boredom and laziness, but expecting too much of ourselves can be physically and mentally crippling. We give excuses to others how about allowing the same kindness to ourselves.
“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein
