“This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. You’re going to wear yourself out-and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.” (Exodus 18:17-18)
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10)
Like a single man pulling from his end in a game of tug-of-war, it’s only a matter of time before the many demands on your attention overpower you. But if you delegate, like the man who doesn’t pull alone but shares the weight with others, you’ll find yourself more productive and able to rise above the many responsibilities you carry.
Many times, we think of ourselves as superheroes, ready to take on everything that comes our way. “Bring it on, I’ve got this! we tell ourselves”.
The truth? that mindset is one of the biggest tricks our bodies play on us.
The reality is that you don’t have it all under control. You’re likely tired, stressed, and if you don’t accept help or learn to accept it, you’re on a path to burnout or worse – resentment.
If you are not careful, some years down the line, you might find yourself angry or bitter toward the very people, causes, or companies you once served so passionately. You may feel like they took too way much from you.
But could it be that help was always available, and you were just too focused on doing things perfectly or doing them your way to see it?
I remember when I had my children, I was so eager to go home that very day. It was only because the doctors insisted I stay for monitoring that I reluctantly agreed to be discharged the following day. I felt ready to get back to my life, to pick up where I left off. A part of me worried that everything had fallen apart at home!
But then, my body had other plans. The edema I experienced made it clear that I needed to stop and reboot. Resting; lying down and drinking plenty of water was the only way my body could begin to heal. This also meant embracing as much help as I could, even the kind I hadn’t realized I needed. That experience taught me an important lesson: our bodies have their own needs and rhythms.
Ignoring them is a recipe for disaster.
Sometimes, the best things we can do for ourselves is slow down, listen to our bodies, and let others step in to help.
Here’s something I’ve had to learn and come to terms with: if we don’t give others the opportunity to learn, grow, and take responsibility, they’ll never have the chance to meet our ‘standards’. And it’s not because they lack potential – it’s because we never let them try.
That person you think is too inexperienced, too unqualified, or too new might surprise you if given the chance. I’ve seen it time and time again, both in myself and in others: when people are entrusted with responsibility, they often rise to the occasion.
Perfectionists, especially those who pioneer new ideas, often have a strong tendency to be lone wolves. They pour their energy into doing everything themselves, forgetting that there’s far greater strength and leverage in having a few quality people alongside them—people with integrity and strong work ethics.
Such individuals may not always be the most naturally talented, but their discipline and character will consistently make them outperform those who rely solely on raw talent but lack commitment – these are the people worth giving a chance.
“Always remember “one will chase a thousand but two will put ten thousand to flight”.
What are you choosing to delegate today?
Whose help are you willing to embrace moving forward?
