Sit On Your Hands!
- Date: 2008-10-06 - Word Count: 365
Share This!
Have you ever found yourself in a meeting volunteering to do one more thing when you already have too much to do? It's an interesting thing to observe your hand going up, even though you feel a lot of internal conflict. What could possibly be the cause of this?
There are a number of possible causes. Perhaps you are motivated by empathy for the issues you would be handling. Perhaps you want to feel like you are doing your share. Maybe you feel distress and fear that no one will step up and handle the assignment. You might think that you have expertise that others don't, and no one else could do as great a job as you. It's also possible you could have a true desire to take care of the task. Perhaps you simply want to please others.
The first recommendation is to sit on your hands so that you won't compulsively volunteer. While sitting on your hands, do what you can to breathe deeply. Tell yourself, "If no one else volunteers, I can always do so after the meeting or next week." Ask yourself the following questions.
- Is it realistic, with my current schedule to add another time commitment?
- If not, is there another time commitment I could easily give up to make time to take this on?
- If I take this on, will I regret it later, deeply regret it?
- Have I already contributed extensively to this organization or to the community?
- What will happen to my social life or family life if I do volunteer?
- What will this cost me in terms of my own rest and rejuvenation?
- Do I genuinely want to do this?
Now, after asking yourself all these questions, there's a good chance that someone else may have volunteered.
Ask yourself these questions and truly assess both the impact of the volunteering on your life, and the genuineness of your desire. Once that is clear, if you decide that you really do want to volunteer, go ahead. Taking that little bit of extra time to think it through will keep you in charge of your life and your schedule. Get out of the habit of volunteering automatically without thinking it through.
There are a number of possible causes. Perhaps you are motivated by empathy for the issues you would be handling. Perhaps you want to feel like you are doing your share. Maybe you feel distress and fear that no one will step up and handle the assignment. You might think that you have expertise that others don't, and no one else could do as great a job as you. It's also possible you could have a true desire to take care of the task. Perhaps you simply want to please others.
The first recommendation is to sit on your hands so that you won't compulsively volunteer. While sitting on your hands, do what you can to breathe deeply. Tell yourself, "If no one else volunteers, I can always do so after the meeting or next week." Ask yourself the following questions.
- Is it realistic, with my current schedule to add another time commitment?
- If not, is there another time commitment I could easily give up to make time to take this on?
- If I take this on, will I regret it later, deeply regret it?
- Have I already contributed extensively to this organization or to the community?
- What will happen to my social life or family life if I do volunteer?
- What will this cost me in terms of my own rest and rejuvenation?
- Do I genuinely want to do this?
Now, after asking yourself all these questions, there's a good chance that someone else may have volunteered.
Ask yourself these questions and truly assess both the impact of the volunteering on your life, and the genuineness of your desire. Once that is clear, if you decide that you really do want to volunteer, go ahead. Taking that little bit of extra time to think it through will keep you in charge of your life and your schedule. Get out of the habit of volunteering automatically without thinking it through.
Related Tags: make money, success, motivation, artists, happy, creative, productivity, winning, get rich, winner, win, succeed, efficient, accomplish, efficiency, seattle coach
Suzi Elton is a success coach working with highly creative types to create income that matches their talent. She has coached hundreds of clients to approach their goals strategically through tiny steps to bring about quantum leaps. Get free Life Purpose exercises, at mylifepurposecoaching.com. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Using The Law Of Attraction And It's Benefits
Making the Law of Attraction Stronger with Positive ThinkingHaving a a great attitude plays a big pa - Life Transitions And Someday Dreams, If Not Now When?
Recently we've been talking about changes and transformation for the second or third part of our liv - Self Improvement Articles - Self Improvement Tips - Great Self Improvement Tips That Will Help You Achieve Your Dreams
Self improvement tips are a great way to lay the foundation for your personal growth and to push you - The Internet Is The Perfect Place For Those Over 60 To Freely Discuss Sex
The generation gap is alive and well when it comes to many issues in our society. Sex is one of them - Advice Articles - Do your own thinking, Don't let others do it for you
Have you come across a situation where in you wanted to do one thing, but you ended up doing just th - Advice Articles - 3 Simple Steps To Attracting Money For Life-Long Prosperity
Attracting money is to draw in wealth and wealth in your life. To draw in cash, you also need to un - Business Articles - Show Me the Return on Investment
Well designed incentive programs have been proven to increase performance. A study conducted by the - Motivate Yourself Effectively
Being motivated is really important in achieving our goals and without motivation we will have a har - How To Identify Your Personality, Strengths & Weaknesses In 15 Seconds And Make It Work For You
I bet you that in 15 seconds, I can read your personality and tell you what your skills, strengths a - Crush It! How To Make A Living Doing What You Love
Sometimes when I ask my clients "If money weren't an issue, what would you do with your time?" they
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Red Hot
But, do you know that many business owners employ people with similar ideas, values and beli - Doing What You Think You Cannot Do
Eleanor Roosevelt said, "You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you - Does Your Self Help Need A Nudge In The Right Direction?
Are you in need of self help? Do you doubt your capability? If you do, you are not alone! It is no s - Negotiating Life's Detours: Follow Your Energy
Someone asked me recently if I had a guiding principle that helped me decide what new work to take o - Personal Values and Their Importance
Two Interesting Conundrums for You Read both questions first before seeing the answers which are at - Just Do It NOW!
Just do it. Put on your Nike shoes and run with it. Yeah! Jump on it. Go for it. Right now is the mo - A Successful Failure
*Before we get started..... I was hesitant to write this article the way I have because I know that - The One Thing I Know
I know one thing.I know this thing with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my bei - Chinese New Year! 10 Very Simple things to do to Create Your Best Year Ever
On February 28th we will be ringing in another New Year. Wait a minute, didn't we ju - Is Finishing your Book Your New Year's Resolution?
For some of you the reality is you won't finish. And the longer you "work" on your book, the
