TOO MANY EXPECTATIONS

Most of us live under too many expectations.  Especially those of us in leadership.  All of our followers put various demands upon our lives which can reek havoc with our emotional and spiritual health.  How so?

If we are not careful we can allow everybody else's expectations to shape our identity.  It is so easy to become performance driven when we allow everybody else to determine our agenda. When that happens we can lose our authenticity.  We just become actors on the stage of life.  Before long we forget how God has actually wired us to be.

Unfortunately I have seen this happen to too many pastors.  After years and years of meeting expectations that they are not wired to meet, they become burned out and ineffective.   So instead of finishing well in their sweet spot they are busy compensating for their weaknesses.

So what is the answer?

1.  Take time to revisit your God-given strengths and weaknesses, to reestablish your identity.
2.  Begin setting appropriate boundaries that co-inside with your strengths and weaknesses.
3.  Learn to release and empower those who are gifted around you to meet those expectations that are
     not in your sweet spot.  Too many leaders are control freaks.
4.  Consider leaving your position to another who maybe has the gifts and energy to better meet the
     expectations.  ( I realize that there are some positions we can't leave.  ie. husband, wife, father etc.)
5.  Find time to recharge your batteries.  Get off the merry-go-round long enough to rest and evaluate.
     Leadership is demanding and requires intentional rest.