Seneca: Be assured that the same rule applies both to…

Small responsibilities are usually manageable because one person can see the whole thing. The trouble begins when we take on work, commitments, or ambitions so large that they exceed our ability to direct them. Then the project begins directing us. We say yes to every client, try to fix every family problem, or build a schedule with no room for reality. The result is not noble ambition but chaos. This applies to public life and private life alike. Before you take something on, ask whether it can actually be governed by the time, attention, and authority you possess. If not, reduce it, delegate it, or decline it. There is wisdom in keeping your life within the reach of your judgment. A manageable task completed calmly is better than an enormous one that makes you scattered, resentful, and unreliable.