Living Rarefied

I see many many people commit to an idea, not to an action.

I like "do'ers" more than "commit'ers"

Ethan Community, Daily, Feeling

They sound like opposites right?  I argue they are closer than it seems.

I have seen that the root of people who say "oh, I'm a people pleaser" are actually very selfish and when it comes down to it, don't do the pleasing they say they do.

When you commit to everything under the sun, it sounds like you are trying to please others with your time, but in reality you are making less and less time available for those things.  So you end up making a lot of empty promises.

Example:  I formed a support team for my church, so that after the service, we take all the items used in the service, (stage, candles, curtains, clean up the pews, etc.) its about an hour of work after the service, 2 sundays every 6 weeks.  Not a huge committment.  A few of us were talking about doing this team together, so I organized it.  Some other people caught wind of the group that was formed (they hadn't been contacted about joining the group because we had a set team, and nobody else expressed interest about it).  People started talking, not to me, but to others about how they felt left out of the loop on the deal.  I didn't feel too bad about the fact that they were possibly upset with me.  If you have a bone to pick, pick it… Don't talk about having a bone to pick.

I sent out an email to a larger group of people, including those who felt left out… Response.. Nothing.. Actually 2 people lessened their committments who were already signed up.

Next time somebody tells me they are a people pleaser, I am going to ask them why they say that and then follow up with my assumption that they probably end up making a lot of empty promises, find themselves stretched too thin, not enough time to more things that are healthy for your body/mind than not, and in the end just end up pleasing themselves.

My hope is that people prove me wrong.  I haven't seen many lately that are trying to prove me wrong.  If you please people, I have nothing against you, but i think your priorities are off.. You should first please God (which doesnt affect his love for you), please yourself and your needs.  Others will be pleased if you focus on those 2 things.  And you'll find life isn't as intense/crazy difficult to manage.  The things you do will be of worth, you might be happier & you wont have Ethan calling you out all the time.

Ethan Community, Surprise Me

Katie has done a wonderful job making this video..  I just got a link from her.

VIDEO

Ethan Daily, testing