Catching the Ball

Just because someone throws you the ball, doesn’t mean you have to catch it.

This is one of the most useful metaphors I have learnt when it comes to reducing stress that is created when you try and solve other people’s problems.

Sometimes, people try to make their problems yours. The fact that they are in a bad mood becomes your problem to try and lift their spirits. The fact that they do not like to delegate tasks to others and are therefore terribly snowed under with work becomes your problem when you send an email asking if they can respond by the end of the day. Or even the fact that they expect an immediate response, for you to down tools and set aside tasks to respond to their needs becomes your problem when you don’t or are unable to (or even when you do and then wind up in further stress when you find yourself drowning in deadlines having neglected your own tasks).

It goes on and on and I’m sure you can think of many examples. But just remember this simple phrase: just because someone throws you the ball, doesn’t mean you have to catch it.