If you are like most women, you are trying
to keep your head above water in this speed-
crazed world, stretched too thin on your
time and juggling ten projects at a time.
Sound familiar! My best friend Tina and
myself have a great joke and we always state
we
consider ourselves “wonder women”
and we add “we look at ourselves and
we wonder!”
After working a full year non-stop, serving
on a board, numerous speaking engagements,
co-publishing books and sitting on the organizing
committee for a fundraiser, the brakes were
applied one weekend a year ago. I came crashing
against a brick wall. Believe me, it hurt!
Like most women, I ignored the symptoms
of stress: sleepless nights, constant exhaustion,
daily migraines, a racing heart, back aches
and stomach upsets. Stress is common in
everyone’s lives and there is no exception
to this rule. But sometimes, life has other
plans for us. I had to do some serious soul
searching about continuing on a volunteer
board that was time consuming and fraught
with conflicts.
When is it a good time to throw in the
towel and say “enough is enough”?
I have never been a quitter, so would I
be considered a coward, a loser, defeatist?
If an organization, commitment to a goal
or a person is not serving your best interests…when
do we make the decision to move on? Here
is a few heart-felt observations that I
had on that weekend:
1. Admitting “enough is enough”,
does not mean you are weak or a selfish
person. It does not spell defeat. It is
actually more courageous to step down than
to get sick over something. Taking back
control to yourself, and to your health
makes you a winner.
2. Consider the other option. We could
continue something that is getting us more
stressed and sicker or we could step back
and take control of our stress levels. When
you are making this decision, sit back and
consider the other option. Talk it over
with an unbiased person who can see the
whole picture objectively. You would be
surprised to see what they see!
3. Own your own age! Even though I have
inherited great genes, and most people mistake
me for my early 30’s, the fact is
that I am in my mid- 40’s. We and
life, evolve and circumstances change and
it is important to be honest with ourselves.
The energy that we had 10 or 20 years ago,
is not the same energy level we have today.
4. Life is not about “survival of
the fittest”! Life is about balance,
and living with honesty and integrity. Working
hard to achieve our personal goals or lofty
dreams is admirable, but not at the expense
of our survival. Life is not about surviving,
it is about living.
5. Prevention is better than a cure! My
life partner always says this to me (I should
listen to him more often)! Be pro-active
today, instead of waiting till tomorrow,
when the decision is sometimes made for
us.
6. Learn to set boundaries. Prioritize
your life with what is important and needs
attention now. Life is not a contest, but
your precious time and health is the prize.
7. Put your ego aside! If we were to remove
our egos, our drive to succeed, a desire
to be a people-pleaser, you would see your
decisions clearly and easily.
8. When stress becomes toxic! Let’s
face it…there is normal stress (paying
bills, being at work on time) and there
is high-level toxic stress. When the unnecessary
stress becomes a pollutant in our personal
health system, then drastic measures are
needed.
9. When you make the decision to feels
right in your core, then stick with it.
Do not let anyone persuade you. The weight
of the world will be lifted from your shoulders.
10. The law of balance states that when
you are giving more to something than what
you are getting back, then it is time to
pack it in. In the end, the scales are never
tipped in your favour.
Sometimes, undue and unnecessary stress
that we put upon ourselves, will dull our
gems within. Take a good look at what is
important right now and if saying “enough
is enough” will help you to sparkle
and shine again, then do it! Then you can
truly say that you are a wonder(full) woman!
Nominated for Canada 100 Most Powerful
Women, Canada's Diamond Coach Adele Alfano
www.AdeleAlfano.com
is an Award Winning Professional Speaker,
Author, Co-Publisher,
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