Capacity

When is enough, enough? When are you officially done? When do you decide you can’t take it anymore? Is it when you’ve run out of energy? Is it when you snap? Is it when your body responds? How do you know you are at capacity?

Most of us think that because we are capable, we have capacity. We have to reprogram ourselves. What does your “yes” cost you? Does it take away from your personal time? Does it take away from your family obligations? Is a “yes” necessary at this very moment? Can it wait? Can you delegate?

I am just beginning to realize that I don’t have to do everything. I’m learning that things will eventually get done, just not on my timeline. Those dishes can wait. The laundry will never be completely done. Your to do list never ends, and guess what? It’s ok. You are only one person and you can’t run on empty.

Yes

Shonda Rhimes issued a challenge in her book, The Year of Yes. Say "yes" for a year. She chronicles how saying "yes" changed her life. My immediate thought was that there is no way you can say "yes" for a year. There has to be some balance. Rhimes explains that she had to learn when to say "yes" and when to say "no," and often times she was saying "no" to the very things she should be saying "yes" to. It's a hard balance. Many of us don't learn this lesson until our bodies physically tell us "no!" We should evaluate every opportunity through the capacity lens. What is the capacity lens? The capacity lens asks the question,"just because you are capable, do you have the capacity? What will this "yes" take from me and is it worth it? Am I operating on a full tank or a quarter tank? Am I giving out of my abundance or my need?" There's nothing wrong with saying "no," but make sure that you are saying "yes" for the right reasons.