Give your list careful thought and make necessary revisions to expected behaviors. From this list you should be able to effectively and efficiently manage your roles and positions.

MAXIMIZING ROLE PERFORMANCE

Socially appropriate role performance requires knowledge about what is expected, ability to perform what is expected, and motivation to perform what is expected.

Learning to define and manage your roles and positions provides you with knowledge of what is expected. However, you determine your ability to perform what is expected and your motivation to perform what is expected.

After final list revisions are completed, examine list carefully to determine your ability to perform each role and position. Only you can make that determination because only you know how much responsibility you can manage. Remember your goal is to maximize role performance.

You've determined that you have knowledge and ability to perform what is expected. But, are you motivated to perform what is expected? Never accept a role or position that you are not motivated to perform. Generally, you will not do a good job if you are not motivated even if you have knowledge and ability.

In order to maximize role performance all three ingredients must be present - knowledge, ability, and motivation.

Knowledge of roles and positions should help you to better understand who you are and empower you to look beyond your name into your inner self.

So, next time someone asks you, "Who are you?" make sure you not only give them your name but also inform them about your roles and positions. Your roles and positions are part of essence of who your are.

Somewhere in mid-life many people begin to realize they are not going to live forever. Often, as with Jamie, they enter psychotherapy to deal with very real life issues only to find that they flow easily between talking about their personal dynamics and their cosmic beliefs. A 1995 Gallup poll found that older a person is, more important rituals of religion were likely to be. Also, findings are consistent that older people who use religion to cope do better psychologically and physically than those who do not.

As we age, concept of spirituality —whether through or apart from religious ritual — takes on greater significance. Since our population is aging and for first time in our history seniors will outnumber youth, perhaps there will be a change in ways our society views both age and spirituality. Ultimately we need to move towards ultimate answer, which is as old as time: We need to give back and to love.

This column's for you,

DR. D

Dorree Lynn, PH.D