Do it for me. That is soothing I need to work on. I have always had this problem with doing anything and everything for other people even if its something I don't want to do or Ike to do. It has got me in trouble a few times in life that I wish tat I could take back and do over again. On the other hand there as been times were I got something out of it I had no idea would happen and has been some of the best times of my life so far. I know that I will always do anything for my family no matter what it is. That is something I know I can't change and no sure that I would want to. I want to stop helping every single person that shows up in my life. One thing I heard somewhere but can't remember where is "
Put everybody that comes into my life in the category of a tree. Some people are
like leaves on a tree. When the wind blows, they're
over there... wind blow that way they over here... they're unstable. When the
seasons change they wither and die, they're gone. That's alright. Most people
are like that, they're not there to do anything but take from the tree and give
shade every now and then. That's all they can do. But don't get mad at people
like that, that's who they are. That's all they were put on this earth to be. A
leaf. Some people are like a branch on that tree. You have to be
careful with those branches too, cause they'll fool you. They'll make you think
they're a good friend and they're real strong but the minute you step out there
on them, they'll break and leave you high and dry.But if you find
2 or 3 people in your life that's like the roots at the bottom of that tree you
are blessed. Those are the kind of people that aren't going nowhere. They aren't
worried about being seen, nobody has to know that they know you, they don't have
to know what they're doing for you but if those roots weren't there, that tree
couldn't live. A tree could have a hundred million branches but
it only takes a few roots down at the bottom to make sure that tree gets
everything it needs. When you get some roots, hold on to them but the rest of
it... just let it go. Let folks go." Its a great way to think of people.
I also tend to want to help when someone needs it, often leading to my own detriment. It's hard to say no to people, especially people in need. I think the tree analogy you wrote about is pretty spot on. A saying that I try to remember when someone is asking me to help them is, "Be sure that when you are saying yes to someone else, you aren't saying no to yourself." It's a great reminder for me and I am slowing learning to say no to things that would derail me from my own goals.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!