Know Your Limits
Have there been times in your life where you feel like the world was on your shoulders? Has that feeling ever stem from the demands and pressure that others put on you?
I called my mother earlier today to initially talk to her about somethings that I was thinking about; hoping that maybe this once she would actually get where I was coming from. Needless to say that did not happen. I quickly changed the conversation to find out how she was doing. She told me that she stressed because of all the demands that other family members were putting on her. I think most of you guys know the drill; when everyone calls you to help them with their issues and problems and at the end of the day when you need help there's no one there to help you. That's basically the case here and what I wanted to talk about.
Growing up people used to tell me all the time that I was selfish and that it's not good to be only about me and that I needed to give back and help others. Granted, that is true; it's not good to be too much into yourself. However, you can't always be about other people as well. There has to be some sort of a balance.
As individuals we have to learn and know that for our own sanity and well being, we cannot please everybody. It's great that you want to help out but sometimes you just have to tell people 'NO'. The way I see it, that one little word makes so much of a difference. You have to look out for yourself first and make sure that you are stable because at the end of the day when you wear yourself thin helping others and die, they won't care. They will move on to the next person quick, fast and in a hurry.
Know your limits, especially when dealing with people. Don't wait until they take advantage of you and your generosity to say something. You need to know how much you are willing to take on and how much you are willing to put up with. When you have reached your limit; STOP.
Yes, when you tell people 'NO' they will get upset; that's natural because no one likes to be rejected. But who the hell cares? So what if they get mad? They'll get over it! And if they don't that's their business. Take care of you, because that's all you have when everything is gone.