Tuesday, January 16, 2007

When it’s O.K. to be a Quitter

As I look over my list of major steps of faith taken, I notice several things start with “quit my job at XXX to do…” or “resigned from XXX committee to do ...”

To become the Authentic You, you may need to re-examine your values and see if there are interpretations of those values that keep you from becoming all you were created to be. If one of your values is “to finish what I start” or “to never give up,” take a close look to see if they are working for your good and the good of those around you. Perseverance is a worthy trait, but if perseverance has become “slogging along at something you hate and is taking too much time from your family” take a look at what you’re doing and why.

Are you working in a volunteer position that has you dragging to the site with little energy to do what is required? Examine that use of your time to see if you are working against your own interests, gifts, and abilities.

“But no one else would volunteer to do it,” you protest.

A very wise man once advised a group of young parents attending his time management seminar, “If no one else will do it, maybe it doesn’t need to be done.”

Sometimes we need to look carefully and see if it is a necessary task or just one that’s “always been done this way.”

You can’t do it all. Knowing your own strengths and weaknesses and the needs of your personality type or temperament is crucial to deciding how to use your discretionary time. (I can help you with that!) Learning to say “No,” even to good things, can free up time to do the best things—the things you are called to do.

NEXT: When Your Job is Your Enemy

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Anita,

You are so right. I think Christians are often goaded into doing things that are not what God has for them by others who use manipulations like, "Picture Jesus hanging on the cross . . . don't you want to do something for him?" We need to learn to liste to his voice. Thanks for the reminder.