Spread Too Thin - An All-about-Me Life (Part Deux)

Spread Too Thin - An All-about-Me Life (Part Deux)

AFTER TOSSING and turning in bed the night after my meltdown, I awoke to a new day. And with a new attitude (after finally giving over my problem in the wee hours of the night).

I took our daughter, Shauna, up on her previous offer to play a bigger role in the family as we encourage Scott back to a healthy life. Because Scott doesn’t drive and has limited opportunities for entertainment, she and her husband, Adam, saw to it that Scott got out more and spent more time with them at their house. Her unconditional love for Scott has proved to be far more motivational than anything I could ever say or do, and she loves being helpful to me.

I delegated major projects at work, those that originally I thought only I could do, to my team members. My previous efforts pale against the creativity and energy they’re bringing to these projects.

I rearranged conference calls and my workload to allow me a more sane schedule, one in which I was not always running late. It seems to be totally illogical, but I’m actually accomplishing more, not less.

I forfeited my role as family social director. I found that other family members are happy to call and make a reservation for Sunday brunch.

Your wisdom and your knowledge, they have deluded you; For you have said in your heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me.” (Isaiah 47:10, NASB)

I know from experience that I cannot be all things to all people. And when I try—I fail them all. Instead of being light, energy, and a positive force to anyone, I become a drain. By spreading myself too thin, I had been making a mess of my relationships. Now, instead of being stressed that everyone needs me at once, I can truly glory in the blessing for all the people I love and who love me.

Are you choosing to live as everyone else’s “center”? Have you said in your heart, “I am and there is no one besides me”? Maybe you haven’t said it, but could you be living this out loud?

There was one other thing I did the morning after my meltdown. I made an appointment with my colorist. The next day, I spent twenty precious processing minutes under a heat lamp with nothing more than my solitary thoughts. This is why I’m a bottle blonde. Every six weeks, come rain or shine—it really is all about me!