Over-extension...

The best way I could think of to illustrate the work we take upon us is a Yoga class. Do I go to Yoga? Ummm, no. That would require:

1. money
2. time
3. some fine lookin yoga threads
4. a super stylish rad yoga bag and mat
5. time
6. time
7. does anyone have the TIME?!?!

However, I will still use it as my lovely illustration. The beggining of the day, a year, or a project begins very smooth, calm and reasonably structured. I see myself in this zen state of mind:

aaahhh, yes...I can handle it.

So I begin pouring more stuff on my plate. 

Sure I'll be the PTA President.

Cookies for the bake sale? How about 5 dozen?

Oh no babe, let ME fix the transmission.

What was that Mr. President? Of course I can fix the national debt while still working full time, taking care of my daughters, being a wicked awesome wife, and continually putting others first every single day.

OK...so maybe I went a bit overboard, but you get the drift.  We are all guilty of it.  Over-promising, over-accepting, over-doing...stretching ourselves thinner than Kate Moss. We continue to take on much more difficult and time consuming things until we end up looking like this:

Wait, what? Legs, 1,2,3...oh nevermind.

What do we have to do to stop the cycle?  Shouldn't we be focused on the following:

1. God

2. Spouse

3. Children

And so if it doesn't fall in one of those categories, shouldn't we be okay saying NO?  Is it bad to say no? Then why do I have such a hard time saying it?