Posts tagged ‘Feeling drained’

January 23rd, 2012

Overcoming Sucky Days

{found on pinterest. from shirt.woot.com}

by: guest blogger

Today was just one of those days!

You probably know the kind I’m talking about. The ones that just drain all the energy from you.

You get home from work with a million things that need doing; but somehow, you just don’t seem to have any energy to do them. Instead, you end up on the couch, suddenly startled to see that it’s 11 p.m.

Where did the evening go? The TV was on, but you can’t really remember what you watched (or why).  The kids were in and out, fed and put to bed, but you were on auto pilot.

 

We’ve all been there, right?

I call these days the “suckies” cuz they just suck!  They suck the energy from you and they suck because they’re just rotten!

It seems like the suckies pop up in my life–like a lawn full of dandelions–when I’m most determined to make dramatic change.

The more determined I am to spend some serious time writing or creating, there they are. The suckies just won’t leave me alone!

I trudge in the door, fix some dinner, tell myself I need to sit down in the office and get some things done.  Somehow, I never seem to make it to the computer.

Ugh!  Another day down the drain, I think, frustrated.

 

How to Break Free of the Suckies

1. Ready? Set. CLEAR!

Have you ever seen a movie or TV show where someone is using a defibrillator? Think of yourself as the patient.

You have suffered an emotional and energetic heart attack.  You need to administer a jolt to your psyche. Get yourself re-calibrated.

How? (So glad you asked)

Break up your routine.

If you normally come home and get into something more comfortable and make yourself a hearty dinner…don’t.

Instead, come home, take off the tie or jacket and stay in your “work” clothes.  Grab a healthy snack–a granola bar or some fruit/veggies.  Then get directly to work. In an hour or two, you can take a break to eat something more substantial if you need.

By that time, you’ll feel re-energized because you’ll be engaged in work that is important to you and which energizes you.

If you normally come in and try to go right to work, change it up.  Take time making yourself a delicious dinner.  Enjoy your dinner.  Then get busy with your “important” work.

The vital thing is to change it up.  Don’t let yourself settle into the normal routine.  You deserve better.  You are better than that.

2. Create a List…Or Don’t

Make a short list of the things you want to accomplish.  Stay focused.  (Or don’t)  I’m a free spirit and can be distracted easily.  I sometimes need a list.

If your life is governed by lists and you’re super-efficient, then do the opposite.  Set aside your lists and spend time reconnecting to the tasks which expand your bliss and sense of joy.

Spend some energy just enjoying the wonderful process of engagement with the work about which you are passionate.  Experience what it feels like to just be present in the creative moment and creative space. (It’s exhilarating)

3.  K.I.S.S.

We’ve all heard the maxim: Keep It Simple, Stupid.

When it comes to overcoming the “suckies,” I recommend doing something simple.  Sometimes all it takes is one small, simple action to draw us out of the suckies and help us to reconnect to our passionate work.

But I would like to modify the K.I.S.S. maxim to remind us to Keep It Small and Simple.  Don’t try to take on the whole debilitating and demoralizing project.

Just do one small and simple part.  Then do the next (and the next).  Soon, you’ll find that you have completed it.

***KISS= Keep It Small and Simple***

The Power Punch

The takeaway is to do what it takes to break yourself from your unconscious habit state and reawaken your awareness in order to engage with the power of your innate creative mind. The strength lies within you.  It simply requires a simple remembering and a small refocusing on what is important.

Now it is your turn.  What are your tips for overcoming the “suckies” in your own life? Have you used the techniques I have listed above?  How have they worked for you?

BIO: Steve Rice is the owner of TrueSpiritualAwakening.  He is an author and entrepreneur committed to creating a well-lived life and helping others to do the same. You can follow him on Twitter or connect on Facebook.

June 30th, 2011

Nurturing Your Soul

{photo}

You know that most of the time bloggers write what they know about right? Or they blog about what they are going through.

So when I say, “nurture your soul,” I’m confessing that I’ve been known to neglect this vital nugget of truth.

And I’ve done it more than once. In fact, you could say that I’m a quarterly soul neglector.

Why Neglecting Your Soul is Just Plain Nuts

But the bad thing about that is neglecting turns to drain and drain turns to depletion. If I’m being honest, it sometimes turns to drama too. {Might as well get all my D’s in there.}

And what happens is a lot of unnecessary negativity, a severe decrease in productivity and a blow to your soul.

Not a good thing all around.

So why do we do it?

Trying to Catch a Rainbow

Imagine a rainbow. Think about that rainbow as the 10 pounds you want to lose or the job you really, really want. Now imagine that juicy goal right in front of you. It’s almost in your grasp. You just need to…Get. A. Little. Bit. Closer. You can almost reach it. But then like that rainbow it goes a little bit further. So you chase it again. And again.

It’s like a treadmill. You end up running yourself silly and getting nowhere.

Frustrating isn’t it?

But for some (me included!), there is a part of you that thinks if I only work a little harder, do just a bit more, I’ll get there. I’ll touch that rainbow. I’ll finally get to my goals.

And you will.

Just not without learning to nurture yourself first.

I have to keep learning this lesson over and over.

Thankfully, I have a chronic illness that reminds me when I’ve gone overboard. In fact, my health has been going down lately and I know why.

When I started getting well, I got sucked into that obsessive accomplish mode and I forgot about taking care of myself. I stepped up my exercise routine. I began taking new assignments left and right. I was feeling good so I let my creative spirit die. I just didn’t have the time to read for fun, paint or be crafty.

That’s why I’m blogging about this now.

In the last month or so I’ve felt as depleted as a dried up sponge. Hard, crunchy and abrasive. In order for me to get back to a place of inspiration, I need to refuel my soul. Painting for me was like water to that sponge and I soaked it up like there was no tomorrow.

A few nights ago, I heard a strong inner voice say to me, “Paint.” And it grew louder and louder. I was exhausted, but I did what I could to begin the process of painting.

It felt good. My fingers were no longer in that scrunched up typing mode and I wasn’t anxious about the next thing on my list. It was in the moment, oh how I need this right now, gift to my soul.

What happened was that I honored myself.

I can bet those of you who read this are a bunch of ambitious folk. You see everyone else’s fame and you want a piece of it too.

But you need to remember that the journey is long. And in order to keep going you need to stop, take a rest, and take care of your needs.

Feed your soul with love, fun, and rest and you will get there eventually.