Meditation for Perfectionists – Friday March 31, 2023

Why Am I Working So Hard?

Ecclesiastes 4:7-8: “I saw something…that was senseless. I saw a person…He always worked hard. But he was never satisfied with what he had. He never asked himself, `For whom am I working so hard? Why don’t I let myself enjoy life?'” (NCV).

“I just have to work harder. If I don’t get it all done, everyone will be mad at me,” moaned an exhausted student and my friend.

“What was your goal for today?” I asked.

“I needed to read five chapters in sociology, finish the rough draft for an English term paper, learn my lines for drama class and write letters to my grandma and boyfriend.”

“How much do you still have to do?” I asked.

“Well — I’ve completed all those things. But I be ahead of schedule. I cancelled my babysitting job last night so I could get ahead. I just have to try harder.”

Some of us feel like we are always on the brink of disaster even though we are experiencing obvious daily success. Rather than congratulate ourselves when we reach our goals, we change the rules. More! More! Harder! Harder! Faster! Faster!

With patience and practice we can learn to stop changing the rules on ourselves, accept our current accomplishments and enjoy life. Let’s begin today.

Lord, temper my striving
to work harder, faster, longer, and MORE!
I want to enjoy my life.

Copyright Joan C. Webb

For more from Joan Webb visit www.joancwebb.com