Stepping Up to the Plate in the Game called Life

What do you say, how do you respond, when you are called upon unexpectedly to fill in for a co-worker in need? Yesterday morning I got a call from a co-worker that requested my help in the studio on my day off.

here are a few of the ways I could have chosen to respond:

a) say yes - but really resent the intrusion

b) say yes - because I was open and willing to go in to help out

c) say no - dismissing it without listening to the need expressed

d) say no - after listening to the need, explain why it was not possible for me to help at this time.

It may seem like the choices here are simple.


I have found that life comes down to simple choices. When we are presented with outside requests and demands on our time we must chose how we are going to respond. most of us tend to complicate matters and agonize over our decisions (doing so adds stress to the experience). When we are stressed we tend to make snap decisions based on our immediate feelings. (I've tended to look back on most of my decisions made based on alleviating immediate feelings of stress as imprudent and foolish)


The best course of response to others who "need" us unexpectedly or who make requests of our time and talent is to decide beforehand how we will respond.

Remember: with the help of our Creator, our lives are our own to direct.

the best defense against stress in the face of outside demands is to be inwardly directed.

when we are inwardly directed we are:

-choosing the priorities of how to use our time before outside influences and demands arise.
(there will be different priorities for different people at different times.)
-the key is to make choices & decisions before stress distorts our perception of reality
-planning ahead for for the curve balls life can throw our way.
-committed to sticking to our preplanned response, when it serves our goals.
-flexible to outside pressures because we have options in our responses


This week I responded on different occasions with the above answers b & d . B and D put me in control of my life and happy with the choice I made when responding to an outside demand. Choosing my responses was easy as I had done some "pregame" decision planning beforehand for each situation and request.


Note: when you make the decisions beforehand of how you will respond to whatever the outside demand on your time is, it is not unexpected anymore, you have "rehearsed" it already. You are ready to meet it.

Examine your life today. Are you reacting to outside situations that "govern" your life or are you living from within? You will enjoy your life more when you take the time to do some "pregame" decision planning and get proactive in your approach to life.

Doing so will enable you to step up the the plate in this game of life, and swing for the fences with confidence!