What you tolerate can sap your energy and effectiveness

What are you tolerating?  What bugs you at home, at work, in your community?  Many of us spend much of our energy and time dealing with things, people, behavior and situations that we tolerate.

It doesn't have to be that way.

As we eliminate the things we tolerate, we will find more energy, we'll be more effective at work and at home, and we'll be easier to work with.

Here's how to do it.

1. List ten things you are tolerating at home.  You can come up with your own list, or use the thought starters at the bottom of this article* to spark your own ideas.
2. Handle each thing on the list in its turn - eliminate it completely, and then develop a system to keep it from coming back.  For example, go through all your clothes, keeping only those which fit well and which you love to wear.  Donate or sell the rest.  And then only something new when you need to replace a worn out piece of clothing.
3. List ten things you are tolerating about your family.
4. Handle each of those in its turn.  Sometimes that will mean setting boundaries ("What I want is for you to ask before using my computer") or setting personal standards ("I will not multi-task when I am listening to my wife - I will listen to her with my full attention for at least 30 minutes every day").
5. List ten things you are tolerating at work
6. Handle each of those in its turn.

Look for ways to outsource a "toleration" to an expert.  For example, if you are lousy at ironing, consider having your shirts done by a commercial laundry.  Get expert help.  For example, hire a personal trainer to help you stick to an exercise regimen.

Bring your support network in to help you zap the things you are tolerating.  Ask your spouse, partner, and friends for help.  Hire a coach.  Hire a closet organizing specialist.

As you eliminate things you are tolerating, your energy and creativity will increase, you will feel "lighter" and you will be more effective in all areas of life.  Give it a go!

Resource:  The Portable Coach: 28 Sure Fire Strategies For Business And Personal Success, Thomas J. Leonard, Step 15.

*Thought starters for the list of things you are tolerating at home:

• A closet full of clothes that no longer fit, are worn out, or represent a style you will never want to wear again.
• A messy, malfunctioning car.
• Toys all over the family room.
• A leaking faucet.
• A burnt out light bulb over the kitchen sink.
• Old furniture.
• A house you are not comfortable in.