I Can Give My Best Without Carrying What Is Beyond Me!

14 minutes ago

3 min read

Have you ever done everything you know to do and still found yourself mentally carrying what happens next?

I have.

I can think about something, pray about it, make a decision, take the action, and then somehow my mind still wants to stay on duty. 😄

What if this happens?

What if they say that?

Should I do something else?

Maybe I should think about it one more time…

And before I know it, I am no longer just doing my part.

I am trying to carry the outcome too.

There is a difference.

Giving my best still matters

This is not about caring less.

It is not about shrugging my shoulders and saying, “Well, whatever happens, happens.”

Actually, it is the opposite.

I want to make thoughtful choices.

I want to take responsible action.

I want to follow through on what I said I would do.

I want to give my best to the people, opportunities and responsibilities that matter to me.

But I am learning that giving my best does not require me to carry everything.

There comes a point when I have done what is mine to do.

And recognising that point matters!

My brain does not need to stay on duty

Sometimes the action is finished, but mentally, I am still working on it.

Replaying.

Rehearsing.

Predicting.

Trying to solve what has not even happened yet.

That takes capacity.

Attention that could be available for the conversation I am having now, the person sitting beside me, the next decision I need to make, or simply enjoying where I am, can remain attached to something I cannot currently change.

For me, this is where faith becomes incredibly practical.

I can say:

I have thought carefully.

I have taken responsible action.

I have done what I can.

Now I can trust God with what I cannot determine.

That is not giving up responsibility.

It is recognising where my responsibility ends.

And there is freedom in that.

Try this today:

Think about one thing that has been occupying more of your thoughts than you would like.

Ask yourself:

What is mine to do here?

Maybe there is an email to send.

A conversation to have.

A decision to make.

Something to write down so your brain doesn’t have to keep holding it.

A next step you have been postponing.

Whatever it is, identify one action and, where possible, do it.

Then ask yourself a second question:

2) What part of this is not mine to determine?

Someone else’s response?

The timing?

The final decision?

An outcome you cannot guarantee?

Name it.

For me, that is the part I bring to God.

Then I want to practise something that can be surprisingly difficult:

Return to my day.

Return to the people in front of me.

Return to the work that needs me.

Return to the moment I am actually living.

That small return matters for brain health too. It gives our attention somewhere useful to go rather than repeatedly asking our minds to work on something for which there is currently no further action.

Gratitude gives me another way to see it

Today, I am not only grateful for what has worked out.

I am grateful that I can give my best without carrying what is beyond me.

I can care deeply without believing I control everything.

I can be responsible without assuming responsibility for everything.

I can follow through without mentally following an outcome around all day.

And I can trust God without becoming passive.

There is still something for me to do.

I do my part.

And then I trust Him with His.

#IChoose

#IChoose to act where I can and trust God where I cannot.