Pick Your Battles

I had a great conversation this weekend with a friend who is just happens to be a stay-at-home dad. The fact that I had a conversation with a dad instead of a mom has nothing to do with what we talked about – I just like saying that I had a conversation with a dad instead of a mom!

Anyway, I digress.

Our conversation surrounded discipline and the tools we used to motivate our children to do the things we need them to do such as: brush teeth, pick up toys, do homework and so on. We both have young children so many of our motivation tactics involve time outs, soap and perhaps a favorite toy taken away as consequences and money, toys, stickers or food treats as motivation.

During our discussion we came upon the idea of “pick your battles” and the topic really stuck in my head. What was it about pick your battles that resonates with me - a mom who is a business woman?Right after this, a business woman I know, Kim DeYoung of http://www.metromom.com/, told a story during an ecourse she was delivering. She shared a time that someone owed them payment for a product and she didn’t send it to collections. She didn’t want the negative energy – she thought it was better to just let it go. When she said this, it helped me with the connection! She chose to let this “battle” go.

In life we have to pick our battles! Whether we are dealing with our children, our life partners or our customers – we must make conscious choices about the battles we are going to pick to fight. Some are worth fighting and some are not. If we choose to make everything a battle then life will always be a struggle. Do you always want a struggle with your kids or your spouse/partner? I certainly don’t. Next time something rears up - make a conscious decision as to whether you need or want the negative to prevail. If everything is not a battle then everything won’t be…