Being Busy
From Ordering Your Private World, by Gordon MacDonald (2003 edition, p.1):
"There is a busyness that reflects a plan of activity, a pattern of priorities, and a sense of purposefulness. It is a good and satisfying busyness through which one grows and increases competence. But there is also a busyness...that reflects a chaotic way of life - a way of doing in which one is simply responding to the next thing in the day...It makes no difference whether or not it has significance; it's just the next thing, and one does it because it's there to do."
I am not a busy person, but I still get stressed out, because all I do is respond to the next thing in the day. Worse, I wait for things to get bad before I respond - as if the only response I can give is an urgent one.
That's all; I want to keep sharing my thoughts as Joe and I slowly go through this book.
Being Selfish
I am watching past seasons of Biggest Loser. A host of cliche phrases festers throughout, including "My heart was literally beating out of my chest," "She threw me under the bus," and "I worked my butt off this week." There's also a common phrase contestants use when they make a decision that hurts another player: "I've spent my whole life putting other people first, and for once in my life I'm going to put myself first." Almost every player has this "epiphany" at some point during the season.
So is it sometimes good to be selfish? I guess it depends on what "selfish" means. Philippians 2:4 says, "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." It just says to pay attention to yourself and others.
So when should I put others first? When should I put myself first? What does that even mean?
Serving Too Much
Every single week I get a latte from the espresso stand at church. Almost every week, they ask me to volunteer with them as a barista. I always say, "Sorry, I can't." They are very persistent, but I never feel guilty when I decline.
Seriously, if I accepted every serving opportunity presented to me, where would I be mentally? Isn't it better to limit myself only to the following?
1. Opportunities that God has specifically assigned to me (like helping my husband)
2. Opportunities that will not interfere with #1
I'm a big fan of saying "Yes with caveats." "Yes, I will volunteer to clean a disabled woman's house, but I can only do it once every three months." "Yes, I will help prepare church dinners, and I'm happy to do it as often as once a month." "Yes, I am willing to care for babies in the nursery, but I prefer to be an emergency substitute, and am willing to do this twice a month if needed."
From Ordering Your Private World, by Gordon MacDonald (2003 edition, p.1):
"There is a busyness that reflects a plan of activity, a pattern of priorities, and a sense of purposefulness. It is a good and satisfying busyness through which one grows and increases competence. But there is also a busyness...that reflects a chaotic way of life - a way of doing in which one is simply responding to the next thing in the day...It makes no difference whether or not it has significance; it's just the next thing, and one does it because it's there to do."
I am not a busy person, but I still get stressed out, because all I do is respond to the next thing in the day. Worse, I wait for things to get bad before I respond - as if the only response I can give is an urgent one.
That's all; I want to keep sharing my thoughts as Joe and I slowly go through this book.
Being Selfish
I am watching past seasons of Biggest Loser. A host of cliche phrases festers throughout, including "My heart was literally beating out of my chest," "She threw me under the bus," and "I worked my butt off this week." There's also a common phrase contestants use when they make a decision that hurts another player: "I've spent my whole life putting other people first, and for once in my life I'm going to put myself first." Almost every player has this "epiphany" at some point during the season.
So is it sometimes good to be selfish? I guess it depends on what "selfish" means. Philippians 2:4 says, "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." It just says to pay attention to yourself and others.
So when should I put others first? When should I put myself first? What does that even mean?
Serving Too Much
Every single week I get a latte from the espresso stand at church. Almost every week, they ask me to volunteer with them as a barista. I always say, "Sorry, I can't." They are very persistent, but I never feel guilty when I decline.
Seriously, if I accepted every serving opportunity presented to me, where would I be mentally? Isn't it better to limit myself only to the following?
1. Opportunities that God has specifically assigned to me (like helping my husband)
2. Opportunities that will not interfere with #1
I'm a big fan of saying "Yes with caveats." "Yes, I will volunteer to clean a disabled woman's house, but I can only do it once every three months." "Yes, I will help prepare church dinners, and I'm happy to do it as often as once a month." "Yes, I am willing to care for babies in the nursery, but I prefer to be an emergency substitute, and am willing to do this twice a month if needed."
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