We all have the ability to “power through” things. To put our heads down and do what needs to be done, in spite of being exhausted, burned-out, or not feeling like it.
And, we all do it.
Besides, what choice do we have? All the things still need to get done, whether or not we feel like doing them.
But here’s the thing; when we ignore problems, we self-sabotage. Everytime we ignore how we’re feeling and push through, we limit our ability to live and perform at our best. Everytime we take a deep breath and keep moving forward, we’re making a withdrawal.
If we never stop to make deposits, going broke is inevitable.
But it doesn’t need to be that way.
Instead, why not take brief moments throughout the day to check in with yourself. To re-center and to allow your shoulders to come down along with your guard. That’s what I want to talk with you about.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- The pursuit of harmony
- The danger of self-sabotaging behavior
- How to check-in with yourself
- Tactics for checking in
Let’s get started.
The pursuit of harmony
I’ve grown wary of talk of “balance,” knowing my time will never be 50/50 anything. One day I’ll spend 90% of my time working, the next 10%. That doesn’t mean I’m out of balance.
Finding the proper rhythm to life is what I strive for, knowing full well each day will be filled with ups and downs, as well as time spent on a myriad of different activities.
Harmony is “the combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords and chord progressions having a pleasing effect.” That’s what we’re going for.
How can we get everything in our lives to fit together in a harmonious way? It starts with intention. You have to want your life to be harmonious and then work to make it so.
It’s not going to happen on it’s own.
The danger of self-sabotaging behavior
When left to our own devices, we’ll run ourselves ragged. We’ll push, and push, and push until we get sick and eventually crash.
When that happens, we’ll be forced to slow down or stop for a brief moment until we can begin the cycle again.
This happens for a lot of reasons. Society celebrates endless growth and productivity. We think we can do everything. And perhaps that’s true.
But it’s not true, nor is it possible, if we’re not making deposits or replenishing ourselves.
How to check-in with yourself
This need not be a super-involved process. It can simply be asking yourself, “Where am I at right now?”
Depending on what I’m doing, the answer could be, “Frazzled from dealing with kids. Burned-out from email. Energized after a workout. Anxious for my next meeting.” The answer doesn’t necessarily matter, asking does.
The idea is to figure out what’s nagging at you. What problems keep coming up, over and over again? Odds are, they’re not insurmountable and you’ll be able to solve them if you give yourself the chance.
Checking in with yourself means hitting the pause button and coming back to yourself.
Tactics for checking in
So, how do I make this part of what I do?
You’ve got to break your pattern. If you’re at work, you need to get up from your workspace.
I like to get outside and feel the sun on my face. If that’s not possible, find someplace you can go and be on your own.
Next, close your eyes and breathe. We greatly underestimate the power of sitting quietly with our eyes closed and simply breathing.
We’ve all got a lot going on, and if we don’t put these breaks into our calendars, they won’t happen. Scheduling breaks in the morning for five minutes, and the afternoon as well. They don’t need to be long, they just need to happen.
It’s also important to treat your bedroom as your sanctuary. Make it as quiet as possible, clean your sheets weekly, and make it as comfortable and calming as you can.
Conclusion
You’re capable of a lot, and you’re doing a lot. Adding check-ins throughout your day will have the effect of allowing you to do more.
Remember, if you’re only making withdrawals, you’ll eventually go broke.
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