Heal Yourself-02

– Know Thy Limits

“A great man is always willing to be little.” ― Ralph Waldo

Emerson

A key aspect of the results of a Myers-Briggs Personality type test

is the section which outlines your strengths and weakness. A lot

of the mistakes we make and problems we encounter could have

been avoided altogether if we were a little more knowledgeable

about our limitations. Just think about an eager weightlifter who

tries to lift too much, too soon. What do you think will happen?

Any rational individual will realize that the weightlifter is going to

hurt themselves. Some will argue that this illustration is

encouraging us to limit ourselves, and if we do, and stop pushing

ourselves, we will never know our true potential.

There is no limit to what you can achieve if you set your mind to it,

and sometimes you will never know how strong you are until you

try. You need to, however, ensure that reason and logic prevail

when reaching out to achieve your goals. If you have never lifted

100 pounds, maybe starting with 20 pounds today would be a

better idea. There is nothing wrong with thinking big, but I would

encourage you to start small and work your way up. In essence, I

am encouraging you to be modest in your expectations.

Modesty will not only help you to avoid setting unrealistic

expectations, it will also help you to set realistic time frames to

achieve your goals. Many people become frustrated when they

reach a certain age and have not achieved a certain goal. But just

consider the contrast between Mark Zuckerberg and Colonel

Sanders. Mark Zuckerberg founded his Facebook empire in his

early twenties, but Colonel Sanders did not become the founder of

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) until he was in his eighties. Both

men are considered highly successful, but each achieved success

at different times.

Maybe it’s just not your time or maybe you are just not in the right

industry. As highlighted in chapter 1, choosing a career in a field

you love, will help you to stay motivated and become successful.

This theory is demonstrated in the lives of both of these men.

Their success was as a result of a passion for something they

loved.

A modest approach to life will also help you to avoid comparing

your achievements to those of other people. Some people hit the

ball out of the park on the first try, and there are others who have

to work their way up the ladder. Some will get married right out of

college, others will have to wait a few years and kiss a few frogs

before they find the right person. In fact, both Mark Zuckerberg

and Colonel Sanders experienced many setbacks on the way to

success. You will too. Do not expect that your life will be different.

No matter what you hope to achieve, you are going to have to

work harder than you have ever worked before, and you may

have to wait longer than you expected too.

The beautiful quality of modesty extends far beyond becoming

successful. This is a quality that will help you to stop biting off

more than you can chew. You do not need to say yes to

everyone. This applies both to your personal life, and at work.

Don’t agree to unreasonable deadlines because you want to

impress your boss, unless you are 100% sure you will be able to

complete the task. If you have been given an assignment, and

you are unsure about how to get it done, do not be afraid to ask

for help. If you work a full-time job and have a family to take care

of, don’t commit to too much at your child’s school. Know thy

limits! This applies to your time, energy, emotions, and skills.

Modesty works hand in hand with honesty, the next chapter will

explain you can heal yourself and improve your life by means of

this quality as well.