No Limits, or Know Limits?

A favorite speaker of ours is Joel Osteen. Whether you're religious or not, he talks about optimism which might seed a better day.

http://joelosteen.lakewood.cc/site/PageServer?pagename=JOM_homepage

This week:

Do you feel pressure to have a certain position or possession in order to feel secure? What would happen if you resisted the temptation to compare, and devoted that time to finding comfort in yourself? In particular, if you can get a handle on your limits, then you can spend your time more effectively.

Osteen is the pastor of a large church and was once asked to teach about the Biblical book of Revelation. When he declined to do so, it defied (and no doubt disappointed) the expectations of his company. But Osteen knows himself. "I'm not a theologian. I'm not a debater. I'm an encourager." Perhaps he could be a theologian if he applied himself. Perhaps a label of "encourager" seems less impressive or intelligent than "scholar." But Osteen's impact on ten thousand lives in congregation and millions more on international television is undeniable. He knows his limits, focuses his time, and bears fruit.

"Know your limits" is easily said. But how do we look that boss or volunteer in the eyes and say "Sorry, it's not for me" with confidence? Here are some things that I consider.

- Take a long view past the excitement of saying "yes." What do I love about the opportunity (besides the honor of being asked), and what doesn't fit? Someone recently asked me if I wanted to be a sideline reporter for a high school football television program. I love public speaking. But if I lack passion for the sport, and for the disorganization that can plague low-budget operations...

- Have I tested the "limit" to make sure it's legit? What I may think is an incompetence, may just be a lack of experience. Playing basketball in high school felt like a limitation when I was riding the end of the bench in freshman year. After toughing out a summer of open gyms against seniors, I eventually arrived as a varsity starter. What a shame it would have been to give in so easily! In the case of the TV opportunity, I did say "yes" the first year, to give it a fair try, and was able to give an informed response in year 2.

- Why say "no" instead of "not right now"? The latter's just as accurate in most cases. None of us knows exactly how we'll feel in a year (or even in a day), especially if key circumstances change.

- What's plan B? The future lies ahead as an infinite combination of decisions and circumstances. There is one out there which will bring at least as much happiness. It might be as simple as looking at my current path from the bright side.

In short: we follow our passion until we reach "limits"; we test them if we can; we move on gracefully and peacefully from them.