When I saw this week's Wednesday Word, I kept thinking of the phrase I heard a lot in my youth:
Don't bite off more than you can chew.
I don't think being ambitious is a bad thing. It's how we reach new goals. But, let's say we are a little too ambitious and we take on too much. What horrible things happen to us when we take a bite that is too big? Do we choke? Do we break our teeth? Do we never go into the kitchen again? Do we give up food entirely?
No!
We spit out that bite and take a smaller one.
It might cause some embarrassment, but we get rid of it. We then cut the food into more manageable pieces and try another bite. It's possible we may have to chew very slowly. We may be still sitting at the table long after everyone else is finished. But, we take another bite and yet another until we've completed our meal...until we've reached our goal.
Being ambitious doesn't mean we will always enjoy the food, however. If we've put a good effort into eating a few bites but simply can't tolerate the taste, we should prepare something else. It's up to us to revise our recipe. And, it's OK to ask for help from a more experience cook. Just because we made it doesn't mean we have to finish it. We need to recognize it wasn't what we wanted and start again.
Do you ever use this phrase?
I'm linking up with Deb @ Deb Runs for the Wednesday Word.
Please visit Deb and the other participating bloggers. It's fun!
I think that phrase has many connotations in life. I just had a discussion with a colleague who sees opportunity for positive change but seems overwhelmed by what would need to happen to influence it. I gave him the "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time" analogy.
ReplyDeleteI thought about that phrase too! It's one of my favorites.
DeleteKeeping it real! I think ambitions are great as long as you're willing to revise, renew, and re-conquer. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI think it ends up becoming too stressful if you don't have the ability to make some adjustments.
DeleteI've been known to be too ambitious and i've found ( for me) that it causes nothing but stress!!!! That is something I gotta work on!
ReplyDeleteStress is not a good thing! Knowing you can make changes helps. So does asking for help.
DeleteSometimes I feel overwhelmed in life. Lots of times actually, especially at my job. And now with my marathon training. I wonder, did I bite off more than I can chew? As we get closer to the race, I may scale back my goals. Let's see how things shake out.
ReplyDeleteI've felt overwhelmed a lot lately, not from training but other aspects. I'm currently trying to get back on top of things now. It's hard to dig out of a somewhat self imposed hole.
DeleteMy parents encouraged us to compete and be ambitious and yet at the same time they want us to be cautious. Talk about mixed messages!
ReplyDeleteMy dad was pretty ambitious, so no, actually, I didn't hear that a lot growing up.
My parents weren't very encouraging when it came to sports or education. Girls were supposed to be good wives and mothers, I think.
DeleteI love this so much! Often we set goals, but life gets in the way and we can't complete them. There's no reason to feel discouraged or embarrassed, it's just a time to reevaluate and reset.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up!
We shouldn't feet bad about starting over or making adjustments!
DeleteThis would apply to so many things in life, not just running! I think we must have ambition and goals to try and reach and more importantly it is ok to take that step back and see if we are headed where we think we need to be! I do use this phrase!! Great post my friend! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks. I was preaching to myself a little here. It's a great reminder to take things in smaller bites. That big chunk sometimes is just too overwhelming.
DeleteNice post and great word! I think being ambitious is a good thing because it does help in reaching new goals and trying new things, as long as you are also cautious and don't take on too much and won't be disappointed if things don't go right. Just gotta keep at it.
ReplyDeleteThanks. All things in moderation, as they say. Too much ambition could lead to too much stress.
DeleteGood point! ambition can be a good or a bad thing. Ambition with caution maybe?
ReplyDeleteOh, I like that phrase...Cautious Ambition.
DeleteGreat post! This really applies to me now as I'm thinking of trying for more ambitious goals.
ReplyDeleteFor me, using the Hanson method would be very ambitious! One bite at the time. You are inspirational to take it up a notch from there.
DeleteI like your take on the phrase. I also like "how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." It's a good way to stay focused on our loftiest goals - one step at a time, and sometimes even the path changes!
ReplyDeleteI thought about that phrase too. It's one of my favorites. The path almost always changes. We have to be able to adapt.
DeleteGREAT comparison - love the concept of eating things one bite at a time. It is SO true!
ReplyDeleteThanks. It's all about manageable bites.
DeleteI love the expression and yes, I use it quite often. I do think with exercise and activities, it is easy to place lofty goals and training plans in place that are hard to meet. My expectations have become smaller as I get older. With age comes wisdom, or so they say!
ReplyDeleteIf the goals are too lofty, it may end up causing extra stress. It's more about manageable bites, especially as we get older -- I think.
DeleteThis reminds me of many coaching clients who come to me with massive, uber-ambitious goals. The focus has to be on the little steps along the way.
ReplyDeleteWe need to enjoy those little steps too and not be only focused on the end result.
DeleteGreat take on the word and great analogy for ambition. It definitely resonates in all aspects of life!
ReplyDeleteThanks. Yes I think it applies to every aspect.
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