A big part of that is taking responsibility for things and people we shouldn’t. Their emotions, challenges and even responsibilities. At home or work or society, we are always raising our hand to deal with people and things that have nothing to do with us.
They may affect us; but don’t and shouldn’t involve us. Just because we have a solution or are kind doesn’t mean we must get involved. But like superman, the sight of trouble even if it is a trap, we fly in and lift them out of ‘trouble’ (sometimes that trouble is self inflicted, some staged and some a narcissistic plot to control people or outcomes).
The burdens most of us are carrying are not ours…our backs are too wide and shoulders too strong that we forget that everyone has got to carry their own monkey – our job is to help adjust it on their back so it doesn’t fall or maybe to help offload it when they are ready to let it go.
So check your back this new month, count your montkeys, keep only yours and take the others back to their owners because as some wise African proverb advises, “If it is not your monkey, do not carry it”.