So moving on to Chapter Two... This chapter is entitled 'the secret to your success'. One of the main points of this chapter that really touched me was the message that we CAN say 'No'. I have always been a people pleaser, so whenever someone asks me to do something I have a hard time ever saying 'no'. This always tends to lead to a lot of stress and exhaustion. Karol points out that we NEED to have our priorities sorted out so that we can help avoid this. As mom's it is very easy to want to be the best and do everything you can for your kids, family and yourself. We feel that if we say no, we are letting someone down or missing out on something. But the fact is, is that when we overload ourselves like this we are losing valuable time to spend with God and our family. When we have sorted our priorities (and I mean really thought about them!), whenever someone asks us to do something we can ask ourselves 'does that fit in with what I need and what I want to accomplish'? If it doesn't IT IS OKAY to say NO :). Karol suggests thinking about all of the activities you do for yourself (workouts, groups your involved in, church, work), then think about your children's activities (school, sports, extracurricular activities). Then listing them if you need to so that you can really see what all you do everyday or every week. Do you even have time to think? If you dont then maybe its time to reevaluate what is most important out of these activities. Perhaps another way to look at it would be to see which activities benefit you, yours kids, or your family as a whole the most? I like to look at it that way anyways! Sometimes what I want and whats important doesn't go together. Last November I started working at a Country Club in Richardson as the Private Events Assistant. I loved my job but quickly found out that with school, Riley, AND work I had no, and I literally mean no time to breathe and my grades really suffered. When I decided to take some classes during the summer I knew that there was no way I could continue working and doing school and the same time. I had to decide which was more important and choose. It has been soooo nice ever since. (Not having the extra money stinks!) but now I have more time to focus on Riley and school and have a little time for myself!
I know that I have my major priorities that are always at the top of my list but there are so many small things that creep up onto it that I am constantly having to re-evaluate. It is a continual process. But now whenever someone asks me 'can you do this with us?' 'Can you do this for me?' 'Do you want to get involved?' I ask myself is this in line with what I need and what my family needs. If you have time then go for it!! If you dont, then its OKAY! Just tell them that you cant do that without it interfering in the other important aspects of your life. Just remember, 'no' should ever be used as an excuse to shy away from a responsibility, or something that you SHOULD do but just dont WANT to. :)
Ecclesiastes 3:1: "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven"
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