Last week I felt terrible. I’d made plans with my client/friend LeeAnn to go to Chicago to decorate her new apartment.
I was so excited. I love being flown to Chicago to shop with someone else’s money. Definitely ALL over that!
The two weeks prior to my trip were chocked full. My mother-in-law was visiting from Italy. I shot a TV pilot. I spent a week in North Carolina. I co-hosted a friend’s Birthday Tea in our home. We went to parties. We’ve had back-to-back company. I’ve barely seen my husband in a month. And now I need to fly to Chicago (with the rest of LeeAnn’s stuff!). IT’S TOO MUCH!
But I can’t say “No!”
Can I? I mean … I committed to Chicago. I have to go. What about the ticket? What about LeeAnn’s disappointment? What about her stuff? But … What about Me? I’m exhausted. I haven’t slept in three nights. I don’t want to go to Chicago feeling tired and resentful. And I HATE leaving my husband … again! Crap! What am I gonna do?
Have you ever said “yes” when you need to say “no”?
Even if you WANT to do something! (If it’s a big ol’ SHOULD or you’re simply AFRAID to say “no,” same rules apply.)
I’m a big supporter of contracts and agreements. Dr. Pat Allen says, “Making and keeping commitments is how we know we truly love ourselves and others.”
So the first question to ask yourself is: “Who is my commitment to?”
If you’re a Feminine ingénue ...
1. Your First Commitment is to Yourself
Feminine energies create off feelings. So if you FEEL like you’ve gotten yourself IN to something you need to get OUT of … consider this:
Taking care of yourself is your first responsibility.
As difficult as it was to call LeeAnn and say, “No, I’m not coming,” it would have been more difficult to go. I would not have been the person I wanted to be in Chicago at that time. And we BOTH would have paid for it.
