What do you need?
For my long training run last Friday, I decided I was going to run, “As long as I felt like it.” I let go of everything; no time constraints, no preset running plan, no expectations, just my two water bottles, iPod, and $10 stuck in my hat. It turned out to be one of the greatest runs I have ever experienced.
Afterwards, during my cool-down period, I found myself saying, “Ah, I needed that.” That simple new truth stunned me. I had just given myself a true gift that I really needed and was good for every area of my life.
So, why did I need that great run? Was it because of the peace and solitude of the road as I ran? Was it for the enormous orange sunrise that I experienced? Was it for the feeling of the blood pumping through my body? Was it for the moments where I really pushed through some pain and kept on going with a renewed determination?
A simple fact of goal setting is, “When you set your goals in place, you automatically set your obstacles in place. They will show up in patterns of behavior that are mental, emotional, physical and spiritual in nature?”
This run was special because I had more energy after than before. It had rejuvenated me mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. As I recharged my batteries with new mental beliefs, stronger emotional states, physical growth in my body, and spiritual moments, my whole day and life changed as a result.
However, not too many of us are great at giving ourselves what we really need. Deep down people know what they need, they are just scared to verbalize and commit to it because of the obstacles they will have to overcome to get it. As a result, they give themselves a lot of experiences they do not need. For example, eating too much food or drinking too much alcohol, escapism into internet sites, drugs and medication addictions or unhealthy relationships. While these resolve the issue in a moment, they don’t resolve it long term. Why? Because they are not healthy experiences that allow a person to recharge on all 4 levels at once: mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual.
The next logical question is, “Where do I find that experience that will allow me to recharge all four of these areas at once?” Glad you asked. It is in your hopes and dreams. It is in the actions to achieve what you want to be, do and have in life. It is in the childhood experiences when you were free of the cares of the world, in the dreams and goals that you have forgotten, in your hopes for the future and in experiencing the obstacles you will have to overcome to get there.
Pull out a piece of paper and write down what you really need in your life today? What is the book you need to write? What is the relationship you need to move into or away from? What career change do you need to make? What degree do you need to earn? What martial are or sport have you always wanted to try? Where have you always wanted to travel? What do you need to give yourself in order to have a meaningful life?
If you drop the expectation, let go of how it has to be, how it should be, or the need to map out every step of the journey, get the basic things you need in place, put one foot in front of the other; you too could end up running 14.25 miles before the morning is over. Along the way new empowering beliefs will be developed, emotional barriers will be broken and new emotional highs experienced, physical growth will make you stronger and peaceful moments will fill your soul. And you may hear yourself say, “Ah, just what I needed!”
9/24/09
Burning out in First Gear!
Burning Out in 1st Gear
I don’t remember when I came up with the belief that it is good to live a “full life.” However, I do know that it has a very different meaning from living a “crazy, hectic life.” Unfortunately, a “crazy hectic life” is what the first couple of weeks of September turned out to be for me.
There are many goals I am pursuing in life right now. I am taking some continued education, training for a marathon, staining my deck, painting my dining room, working, and also collaborating to start a Universal Personal Evolution Coaching Curriculum to kick off after New Year 2010.
Over Labor Day weekend, I found myself so busy working on all of these projects that became totally disassociated from my family. However, I was getting a lot of things accomplished. I was a multi-tasking machine. I was listening to the book an audio book for class while painting the deck, moving furniture and prepping/painting our dining room. I was up early in the mornings studying and working late, totally consumed with what needed to be accomplished. My mind and body were moving about 100 mph and would not slow down.
Looking back, the more consumed I was with what to achieve, the more withdrawn, disconnected and emotionally empty I became. I did not go for a run, read to my daughter at night, or play a little X-Box with my son. And just like a car stuck in first gear, the more I pushed on the gas pedal, the more I became frustrated at not getting where I wanted to go faster, pushed harder, and finally burned my engine out.
I had stopped the small fulfilling habits, patterns, and behaviors that would allow me to disengage the motor for a moment. In order to switch from first to second gear in the car you have to push in the clutch, disengage the engine from the car, shift to second gear and then re-engage the engine. When that occurs, the engine’s rpm’s decrease but the car is able to increase its speed. Miraculously, you get to your destination faster with less energy. After my emotional burnout, I had to find a way to disengage for a moment so that I could re-engage at a higher level. I made some time to reconnect with my son for a few minutes on the X-Box, spent a little time reading Magic Treehouse to Isabelle, and sat on the porch with Emmanuelle for a while enjoying her company. And, I went on a run that gave me the inspiration for getting back on track with the Thought of the Week.
A person can never make a great decision in a poor state, never make a compelling goal in a lethargic state, or create more loving connections with people while in a disconnected state. Life will never be defined in what we leave behind but what we leave through the relationships we have built with others. When we live our lives in first gear, pushing harder and harder and forget to stop, disengage into some meaningful activities that recharge us and allow us to re-engage life at a higher emotional level, we will always burn out.
The small investments in people and relationships made the difference between living a “crazy, hectic” and a “full life.” Taking time for family, taking time for self, and reaching out through these thoughts to the people I care about the most is where the energy of life is. And, I am happy to be back!
Remember to disengage once in a while and get back to the little habits and behaviors that refresh, recharge, and give your life the most meaning. Take a moment and give yourself some quiet time, enjoy holding your child’s hand-they will be grown soon enough, give a hug or kiss of appreciation to someone who loves you, or just stop, close your eyes for a second and remember to breathe!
You will see yourself shifting into a different gear, getting more done with less, and driving faster. I will be sure and see you next week with another, “Thought of the Week.”
I don’t remember when I came up with the belief that it is good to live a “full life.” However, I do know that it has a very different meaning from living a “crazy, hectic life.” Unfortunately, a “crazy hectic life” is what the first couple of weeks of September turned out to be for me.
There are many goals I am pursuing in life right now. I am taking some continued education, training for a marathon, staining my deck, painting my dining room, working, and also collaborating to start a Universal Personal Evolution Coaching Curriculum to kick off after New Year 2010.
Over Labor Day weekend, I found myself so busy working on all of these projects that became totally disassociated from my family. However, I was getting a lot of things accomplished. I was a multi-tasking machine. I was listening to the book an audio book for class while painting the deck, moving furniture and prepping/painting our dining room. I was up early in the mornings studying and working late, totally consumed with what needed to be accomplished. My mind and body were moving about 100 mph and would not slow down.
Looking back, the more consumed I was with what to achieve, the more withdrawn, disconnected and emotionally empty I became. I did not go for a run, read to my daughter at night, or play a little X-Box with my son. And just like a car stuck in first gear, the more I pushed on the gas pedal, the more I became frustrated at not getting where I wanted to go faster, pushed harder, and finally burned my engine out.
I had stopped the small fulfilling habits, patterns, and behaviors that would allow me to disengage the motor for a moment. In order to switch from first to second gear in the car you have to push in the clutch, disengage the engine from the car, shift to second gear and then re-engage the engine. When that occurs, the engine’s rpm’s decrease but the car is able to increase its speed. Miraculously, you get to your destination faster with less energy. After my emotional burnout, I had to find a way to disengage for a moment so that I could re-engage at a higher level. I made some time to reconnect with my son for a few minutes on the X-Box, spent a little time reading Magic Treehouse to Isabelle, and sat on the porch with Emmanuelle for a while enjoying her company. And, I went on a run that gave me the inspiration for getting back on track with the Thought of the Week.
A person can never make a great decision in a poor state, never make a compelling goal in a lethargic state, or create more loving connections with people while in a disconnected state. Life will never be defined in what we leave behind but what we leave through the relationships we have built with others. When we live our lives in first gear, pushing harder and harder and forget to stop, disengage into some meaningful activities that recharge us and allow us to re-engage life at a higher emotional level, we will always burn out.
The small investments in people and relationships made the difference between living a “crazy, hectic” and a “full life.” Taking time for family, taking time for self, and reaching out through these thoughts to the people I care about the most is where the energy of life is. And, I am happy to be back!
Remember to disengage once in a while and get back to the little habits and behaviors that refresh, recharge, and give your life the most meaning. Take a moment and give yourself some quiet time, enjoy holding your child’s hand-they will be grown soon enough, give a hug or kiss of appreciation to someone who loves you, or just stop, close your eyes for a second and remember to breathe!
You will see yourself shifting into a different gear, getting more done with less, and driving faster. I will be sure and see you next week with another, “Thought of the Week.”
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