By Karla Sullivan
After reading the advice of Laura Lopez, business consultant and performance strategist, on knowing your limitations, it made perfect sense to talk about moments where we should not be striving to take care of it all though most of us know that those times are rare.
She relays a story about knocking over a a large painting and as it crashed towards her, she noticed that a metal candle stick was falling also. Her first instinct was to put our her foot to stop the candlestick from damaging the granite floor, while her hands were busy handling the painting. Fortunately, she didn’t break her foot. A realization urgently reminding her that she and her foot were not invincible.
Unfortunately, most of what we have been taught is that we have to give 100 percent of our heart, mind and soul, 100 percent of the time. We should but that’s just not realistic. We wouldn’t be humans otherwise. Those running on the 100 % track are overwhelmed, ill, and afraid to show that kind of weakness. We want to do it all and not slow down. Not all are this way, some of us need to speed it up while others take a break.
The first step is to learn about yourself and how much is too much. The American Psychological Association comments that not one person handles stress the same way and you need to evaluate how you are reacting to different situations.
Everyone has a different threshold and understanding your limits is the first step to self-growth.
This is part of the road to resilience and as the APA suggests staying flexible. It is important to recognize strong emotions that come to the surface quickly and understanding how to keep them in check.
Spending time with those you love to gain support is key.
Ask others to step in and take control.
Always keep a positive view of yourself regardless of what decisions you struggle.
Don’t compare your threshold to others.
And plan ahead as so that when life presents struggles that we are ready with a back up.
Take advantage of financial opportunities that will help build a stronger future now since this is where most people’s potential for constant anxiety and stress seem to take its toll. According to the APA’s recent survey, money, work and the economy remain the most oft-cited sources of stress in America.
You don’t have to work three jobs at the risk of your mental and physical well-being instead talk to a financial planner about a savings plans; life insurance can offer funding toward your children’s college education. Insurance plans can offer a variety of options including the ability to take of your final expenses and income replacements; probably much more than three jobs. A financial strategy is doing whatever you can to live a healthy balance between work and family.
The decisions to fund an IRA, contribute to a 401 K or making sure that insurance will cover the unexpected is, ultimately, being invincible.
