Plate Getting Too Full?

I am still not at closure with this idea of there being a difference and/or a similarity between being prepared and being well rounded. I have occasionally used the words interchangeably, but generally separate the two from being exactly the same. According to the dictionary used within a Macbook Pro, prepared is described as a verb (prepare) and reads: Make oneself ready to do or deal with something; be willing to do something. When I searched well rounded, it came up only as an adjective and was defined as: pleasingly varied or balanced; (of a person) having a personality that is fully developed in all aspects.

Our idea of well rounded has changed over time. Previously, these two words could have been used interchangeably. Now, as evident in the dictionary, the two words mean different things. Well rounded is describing something as having a good balance in many areas whereas being prepared is dealing with situations and agreeing to step in if need be. From these definitions, I get the sense that a person who is well rounded enjoys being that way and has probably tried to get there. Someone who is prepared may not always want to handle a situation but feels obligated to do their part because they have the knowledge.

This brings me to the next question I have been pondering: How much is too much for a person to handle? I have found ways to answer this using my own experiences throughout high school and at Westminster. Especially at this institution, we are expected to know and master several different areas within the broad subject of music. We also have additional choirs, clubs, jobs, and activities to participate in. This is not even taking into consideration being a son/daughter, significant other, friend, or any other role students take outside the classroom.

There are several times I have felt like I am dealing with too much for one person. When having a “full plate”, one tends to lose focus in things. It becomes impossible to do everything at one hundred percent so there are things that end up getting done just to have it be completed. Many times, it is easy to forget why an activity was started in the first place. There is no longer that original connection to the reasons of why something was added to an already hectic schedule. A person in this situation can feel like a machine, just doing things because they feel obligated. The activities are no longer fun, and become chores or burdens. Also, having too much to do limits personal time and may even cause none at all.

What are the downfalls of spreading oneself too thin? I have found that having too much of too many things to do can lead to no interest in anything. A person just gets to that point where they do not feel like doing a thing because they spent so much time working on what feels like everything. Another aspect of spreading oneself too thin is that it leaves more room for disappointment. When a person is unable to give his/her all to everything, they are setting themselves up for failure by not putting in one hundred percent effort. This idea, along with striving to be the best can lead to constant stress and self-esteem issues.

How can we change this perception of having to excel in everything? A change in the conversation would be a great place to start. If we, as a community, discuss ways to pinpoint our assets and focus our energy on them, we can change this need to be perfect at everything. If a person is good at several different things, they need to choose specific areas to focus on, not to limit themselves, but to make life more manageable. A focus on gifts will help alleviate pressure. Also, if we all find our roles within a community or a classroom, we know where to focus our attention to so that we can benefit those around us. We are not trying to overdo anything but know that we have a definite place to use our talents.