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Quote of the Week
"Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart."
—Roy T. Bennett
You’re Overcommitted
A friend once stopped me mid-rant while I was describing how drained I felt. I told her I had too much on my plate because I’m an overachiever. She didn’t even blink before correcting me: “Mark, you’re not an overachiever. You’re overcommitted.”
Whew.
That landed because it was true. And honestly, it might be true for you, too. Most of us blame our exhaustion on being busy, ambitious, or “built this way.” But often the real issue is quieter and more avoidable: we keep saying yes when the wiser thing—the healthier thing—would’ve been no.
Let’s break it down.
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Every Yes Has a Price
Saying yes to one thing automatically means saying no to something else. Your time has limits. Your energy has limits. Your peace has limits. When we ignore that math, fatigue becomes inevitable.
I used to label the overload as ambition or drive. But calling it what it is—overcommitment—gave me clarity. Once you admit you’re stretched too thin, you gain the power to fix it. Overcommitment sneaks up on you because it often comes dressed as opportunity, responsibility, or good intentions. You tell yourself, “I can squeeze that in.” But enough squeezes and suddenly you’re tired in ways rest alone won’t fix.
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You Need Off-Ramps
If saying yes is your default, you need easy, repeatable off-ramps—gracious ways to decline or delay without guilt. Here are a few to keep in your back pocket:
“My plate is full right now, but please check back with me [when you’re ready].”
“I want to give this the time it deserves. Unfortunately, I can’t do that at the moment.”
“I appreciate you thinking of me, but I’m not able to take this on.”
These statements are honest, professional, and boundary-building. And they reclaim your time without burning bridges.
One Final Thought
If there’s one thing I want you to walk away with today, it’s this:
You’re tired because you’ve been overcommitted. Give yourself permission to choose wisely. Your future, your focus, and your well-being depend on it.
See you next Monday,
If you’re reading this far… I hope this message finds you well. I’m sharing from my heart in hopes that you will be inspired to unearth and live out your God-given purpose. Hopefully, something I said resonated. I would love to hear from you if so. Please feel free to reach out to me on social media.
FYI: I’m mostly active on LinkedIn these days. If you were forwarded this message, you can subscribe here to receive thoughts like this directly in your inbox. And don’t forget to check out the latest episode of my podcast, ConvoRoom with Mark Allen Patterson.