We all know about the proverbial plates in our lives. Plates that are always full of responsibilities, expectations, and commitments. With Thanksgiving tomorrow, I guess our proverbial and physical plates are about to be or have been overflowing with good stuff, stressful stuff, and stuff we really don’t need.
This morning was jam-packed with rushing to try to make all my plans fit into a time frame that probably wasn’t feasible. The harder I tried and the faster I rushed, the fuller I felt with frustration.
I heard a voice ask what I was “so darn upset about.” (It may have sounded like my husband.) I wasn’t sure why I had tears in my eyes and a burning at the back of my throat that only happens when I cry. I guess it felt like crying would take away some of what was weighing on me. But crying wasn’t going to help anything, and it sure wasn’t going to clear my proverbial plate from all my commitments.
Why was I so upset?
I was the one who filled my “plate” by going to the gym, cooking for the entire farm crew, squeezing in a doctor’s appointment, writing a blog post, preparing food for Thanksgiving, doing laundry, paying bills, and attempting to complete my farm tasks all in one morning.
I didn’t need tears. I needed a new plate.
Have you been trying to clear your “plate” with tears, complaining, and yelling, or filling it with unhealthy alternatives like food or drink?
Please learn from my mistake. Your tears won’t clear your “plate.”
Yes, those tears might help clear your head (once the emotional storm passes), but serving yourself healthier portions of purpose will actually make a dent in what you’ve tried to take on.
By resetting your priorities, you will find that the tasks are more digestible and your success in completing a reasonable amount of missions is much sweeter. Quit trying to double up on the to-do’s and let grace be your additive to accomplishing what needs to be done.
Your Intentergy challenge for this week is to quit trying to overflow your “plates” with stress, unrealistic expectations, and ideals of perfectionism.
Instead, channel your energy into serving seconds of gratitude and dishing out love to yourself and those around you. Those you encounter may not have read my post, so hand them a tissue and reassure them that there are better ways of clearing their “plates.”
By: Melanie A. Peters
P.S. After you hand them a tissue, be sure to share this blog post with them. Happy Thanksgiving!
Intentergy 