We Can't Help Others Without Helping Ourselves First

To-do lists. Everyone’s opinions. Constant planning. Responsibility. Budgeting. Tight deadlines. Technology. News. Emails. Communicating. Cleaning. Cooking. Thinking about the future. Sound familiar? I could go on, but you get the point… yeah, it never ends.

We all need a break. We all deserve a break.

Have you heard the story of Dennis Rodman going to Vegas mid-season? Well, to make a long story short, Dennis Rodman was a Hall of Fame center for the Chicago Bulls in the 90’s. They were on the heels of their 2nd championship 3-peat (3rd straight championship for the 2nd time). Rodman goes to his coach at the time, Phil Jackson, and says, “I need a break; I’m burnt out”… Coach Jackson, being the great leader he is, without hesitation, says, “ok, take 48 hours, do whatever you need to do, and come back”. Rodman goes mid-season to Vegas (yes, mid-season) for 48 hours, then returns to the team (after Michael Jordan had to pry him out of Vegas). He goes on to average 15 rebounds per game, leading the league, and helping lead the Bulls to a dominant championship run, completing the 3-peat.

We just need a break.

We put too much on our plate and stress about finishing all of it. Like Rodman, it's our job to notice this, call a timeout, ask ourselves for permission to take a break, and take it. I’m not saying to fly to Vegas and party for 48 hours. Maybe we need to take a day off, sit on the beach, go by the pool, go to church, go for a hike, go on a retreat, pray, meditate, exercise, read a book…isolate and unplug. Take that break. We deserve it. Use it and turn it into a legendary run.

Remember, we can’t help others without helping ourselves first.