A Sense of Control

There are seasons in life when it seems as if everything around you is shifting. The formerly solid ground you stood on has tilted and it is difficult to gain traction and maintain your footing. Circumstances have changed to the point where you aren't quite sure what is happening and you feel a sense of losing control.

Hopefully these periods don't last too long otherwise it leads to other issues which are much deeper. Sometimes when you are working to survive you've got to grab control of something small to help keep you focused. This could be as simple as rearranging the furniture in your living room, choosing to get up early to run even when you're tired, mowing your lawn, or taking an afternoon off to rest. Being able to have influence in these small areas can bring a sense of peace when all around us seems uncertain.

Overloaded

I wrote yesterday about overload and how a certain level is essential for growth. While this is completely true, too much overload can also lead to damage. In the interest of pushing past our limits we can end up causing self-harm instead of helping ourselves to grow. 

The key is found in recognizing the difference between stress and distress. Stress lets us know that we are working hard while distress is a signal that we are pushing beyond our ability to withstand increased work. When we ignore these warnings we fail to achieve our desired objective and end up taking steps backwards in our development. 

Pushing through exhaustion helps us to see gains, but only if we are able to recognize when we are stretching into potentially injurious territory. We've got to be aware of the warning signs of injury if we want to maximize our maturity while minimizing risk.