Are you a person who is eager to please others and is often drawn into what they would like you, or invite you to do?
This is such a common trap for people, and before we know it, we are spending our time doing things we would rather not be doing, and our own priorities become compromised, says psychologist and author MARGARET LAMBERT in her latest column:
No matter what is going on in our lives, it is essential to prioritise areas of your life that you are going to try to maintain.
For some, this is simply staying alive.
For others with chronic health conditions, it is important to be mindful of the energy and time required in order to maintain reasonable health, and to prioritise the necessary activities involved in self-care.
For those who have no support at home, it can be especially difficult to carry out basic tasks such as shopping, cooking, washing and cleaning.
It may be that you need to prioritise the various roles you have in life – mother, father, employee, friend etc.
And when energy or health is compromised, you become comfortable at saying “No” to some of the expectations of the various roles.
Rather than feeling guilty over saying “No”, it is important to see that self care demands that we don’t become drawn in by other people’s needs at the cost of our own.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]Most of us need to pace ourselves in terms of the level of energy we expend.[/social_quote]
There are some conditions where the energy resources in the body are not easily replenished and we must respect the body’s requirements with additional need for rest.
Saying no is difficult, as the tendency for many is to become involved and to respond positively to requests that are made of them.
However, this enthusiasm can be potentially detrimental, as it can lead us to taking on more than is manageable, and extending ourselves beyond our limitations.
It is often wiser to err on the side of caution in terms of becoming over-enthusiastic with regards to expending energy.
Learning your limitations and becoming comfortable at saying “No” to the requests of others may be one of the kindest responses you give to yourself.
Until next time…
