Don’t Be Afraid to Be a Little Selfish

START BY TAKING REAL INVENTORY OF YOUR LIFE

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks for me as I’m back to traveling more than I have recently. I’m being more selective than ever with my investments of time and energy. That decision has been easier in some ways recently due to health issues, but ultimately, the choice was always mine to make.

The same is true for you as well, if you’ll make some hard decisions about your mission, priorities, and goals. With the help of my CompleMentor, I have written and rewritten the blueprint for my life. And as I was pondering this post, I reviewed it again to gain greater clarity for my next steps.

A few months ago, I wrote down some “I will not, but I will…” statements for my life that empower me to say no to activities that have been distracting in the past. Many may have been good activities but certainly not the best. And you have to know the difference if you’ve going to accomplish the dreams for your life.

Here’s one of those clarifying declarations for me, “I will not accept outside projects for the sake of revenue, but I will create resources and revenue streams to help people live with authenticity.” That may not sound significant to you, but it has freed my time and energy to focus exclusively on what I do best and love most.

There have been so many events and projects I have participated in over the years that were fulfilling. But just because something is validating doesn’t mean it’s actually valuable.Deciding what I say yes or no to now has never been easier because I’ve learned to filter my choices through one word.

Investment.

I compare it to buying stocks. Now, I don’t have a fortune tied up in the financial markets, but I do have real money on the line. And when I evaluate where I’m going to put my resources, I perform my due diligence—because there’s a risk. Would life change if we were as cautious of where we invest our time and energy, too.

Honestly, I’m proud of my achievements my work around the world. But I also realize looking back that I had a tendency to veer of course from lack of focus or sense of ego. The return on investment of my time and energy could have been more fulfilling if I had evaluated the my use of time at the expense of my pride.

I know people busy doing good things while wishing they could apply their passions elsewhere. I know people busy pleasing others socially while forsaking their personal needs. I know people confined to a career they feel compelled to continue even though the joy of the job ended long ago.

It’s painful to watch people spend themselves into emotional, physical, and spiritual bankruptcy because they’re afraid to take inventory of their investments. Even worse, they’ve bought the lie that putting themselves first and being selfish is a sin of some sort. So they remain trapped in a prison of their own making.

Is it time to contemplate your mission, priorities, and goals? If your investments are plummeting, consider what would cost more—staying the course or cutting your losses. Cutting your losses isn’t giving up. It’s regrouping to reinvest. Evaluate the equity of your life. Don’t be afraid to be a little selfish.

Start by finishing this sentence. “I will not _________, but I will _________.

If you complete that sentence, please send me your response. I’d love to hear it!