Are You Doing Too Much?

4. THE PURSUIT OF STATUS AND SELF-FULFILLMENT 

Tim, who lives in the United States, says:  "I loved my work, and I worked at full throttle all the time.  I felt I had to prove myself."  

Note: the only one you need to prove yourself to, is God. 

Like, Tim, many feel a strong connection between their self-image and their pace of life.  The result?  "Busyness has acquired social status," says Elizabeth Kolbert, quoted earlier. She adds:  "The busier you are the more important you seem.   

Note: that is ridiculous. You are important to God and he is the one you should worry about and please. He and Jesus Christ will be the ones judging as to what will happen to you when you die.  

LEARN TO BE BALANCED

Diligence and hard work are encouraged in the Bible.  (Proverbs 13:4) But so is balance.  "Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of hard work and chasing after the wind,"  says  Ecclesiastes 4:6.

Note: In other words, chasing after your tail in circles like a dog and getting nowhere.

Leading a balanced life is good for our mental and physical health. Is it really possible though, to cut back or slow down?   Yes.  Consider four suggestions: 

1 CLARIFY YOUR VALUES AND YOUR GOALS

It is normal to want a measure of financial security. But how much money is enough? What constitutes success? Is it measured by income or material assets?  Conversely, having too much rest or recreation can also increase time pressure.

Tim, quoted earlier, says:  "My wife and I took a hard look at our life and decided to simplify it. We made a chart that showed our current situation and our new goals. We discussed the effects of past decisions and what we would need to do to reach our goals."  

2 REDUCE THE INFLUENCE OF CONSUMER CULTURE

The Bible advises us to control "the desires of the eyes."  (1 John 2:15-17)  Advertising can fuel such desires, pushing a person to work long hours or to indulge in excessive or costly recreation.  True, you may not be able t to avoid all ads. But you can limit exposure to them. You can also carefully consider what you actually need.

Keep in mind, too, the power that your associates can have on you. If they avidly pursue material things or if they measure success in material terms, you may be wise to seek out friends who have better priorities .  "The one walking with the wise will become wise,"  the Bible says. - Proverbs 13:20. 

 Note:  I am probably an outcast or whatever you want to call it. But I made it a policy not to associate with coworkers outside the job.  Simply because, to me, if they know too much about you and your life, they can and use it against you.  To me, that is the best policy ever, and keeps you safe.  People can be warm and loving and turn around and do you in, one way or another.  Plus, you save money by not entertaining people that will never be pleased by anything you do.  That is the way the world is now, immoral, greedy, corrupt, without affection, without regard to anyone. etc.  You have to be careful in who you choose to associate with. Be friends who have the same ideas, values and beliefs, integrity and ethics  that you do.   Someone that you can trust with your life and anything else.  

Next time: Are You Doing Too Much? -SET LIMITS ON WORK'

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