Have you ever imposed a deadline for yourself to do a task, but as you approached the deadline you became increasingly aware it would be impossible to meet?
When you find yourself in that position, the first thing you should do is remove the rod you’ve placed in your back. Let it go, and start afresh.
If you keep pushing to meet an impossible task, you may cause more harm than good. And if you stop pushing but don’t remove the rod in your back, you’ll be left feeling guilty or ashamed, which will also do you no good.
Setting yourself conditions can certainly encourage action, but you must be mindful of how you’re carrying the rods you impose on yourself. If you’ve set yourself an impossible task, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on what you can do better next time – just make sure you first remove the rod.
.