The Big Bite Theory

When it comes to the matter of keeping busy, there are those who hold to the big bite theory. They maintain that the way to be successful is to bite off as much as possible from everything that appears to be both necessary and desirable…and then chew furiously.

The premise is that the situation will settle given time. That the panic will be replaced by peace. But that’s a dangerous assumption.

Over-commitment results in stress and stress leads to mental anguish. And those who “take on the woes of the world” are those who are running the risk of suffering the most.

It’s important to know our own limitations, accept them and act within the parameters set by those limitations. There are things we can change. There are things we can alter. But there’s so much beyond our reach as individuals. While it’s true that one person can make a difference it’s equally true that one person attempting to do too much will inevitably achieve little of any real and lasting value. Focus is important and focus is all about concentrated attention and effort.

Change starts with self…and it’s the only change anyone can truly manage and control. We become functional and contributing members of society from the inside out.

Care also starts with self. It’s only by acknowledging the warning signals being emitted by our minds and our bodies and then taking action to put things right that we can hope to reach our potential.

Quite often it becomes a matter of prioritising…selecting the most pressing problem and putting effort into resolving it…working methodically towards a remedy or an answer that is within our field of influence and not beyond our emotional or physical capabilities.

Realising that life is not something that happens to us but it’s something that happens because of us is a good place to start.