( ENSPIRE Health & Wellness ) The Importance Of Not Allowing Others To Determine What Your Limitations Are
ENSPIRE Contributor: Naomi Stamps
“Know your limitations” is a rule that many people struggle to follow today. The reason is, our peers, family members, and mentors push us to go at the same speed as others. Besides this, we allow ourselves to fall victim to comparison and the unrealistic rules set by society. It’s essential to know your limitations to prevent unnecessary stress and decrease the risk of uncompleted tasks. No one else can tell you what they are because everyone’s different. Don’t believe for a second that this makes some people stronger and weaker. Finishing tasks at your own pace is healthy for both your mind and body.
I regret not applying the “know your limitations” rule back in my college days. To appease academic mentors and certain relatives, I took on more classes to keep up with my peers. As a result, I was constantly stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed during this time. Mentors and relatives said I had to meet their limitations for my academic life to graduate “on time,” so I listened and followed. But one semester helped me to realize the necessity of setting my limitations.
I took Excedrin almost every day for stress-related headaches and was constantly fatigued. Then one night, my stress had reached its climax. As I studied for a test with another headache, my left arm got tight. Foolishly, I was about to ignore it to continue studying until God intervened and told me to stop. I was in a trance and almost pushed myself to have a stroke by allowing others to determine my limitations. I thank God for preventing a bad situation, but I hate letting it go that far.
It took me six years to graduate, but I don’t regret it. Why? Because I set my own limitations and ignored the negative comments from peers and relatives. They tried to convince me it’s embarrassing to graduate later than others, but I’m happy to say I’m not. Because I set my own limitations, I wasn’t as stressed; I got my diploma, and I graduated with honors! So take it from me, don’t allow others to dictate when you should accomplish your goals.
Challenging yourself doesn’t mean overwhelming yourself. Instead, gradually add more tasks and responsibilities to your list and closely monitor how you’re feeling. Don’t be afraid to adjust your limitations until you find the perfect balance if it’s too much. Your health should be of top priority, even if others dismiss it. Setting your limits now and keeping a positive attitude will get you closer to the finish line.
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