Like most people, I lament days when I’m struggling to complete ‘to do’ list(s) and find myself at a snail’s pace. The joy of productivity is insatiable and when I’m on a roll, it seems like it could last forever!! But it doesn’t. When it stops or slows down, I worry. Will I ever get into work mode again (as if it has disappeared for good)??
So lately, I’m practicing going with the energy that presents itself rather than against it. Why not see my tired mind as a hint that I need to access my physical, emotional, or spiritual energy? Maybe there’s a reason that I need to shift to other activities, i.e. to balance things out and come back to my mind refreshed rather than forcing it to churn out more ideas and make constant decisions?
Last week was full of this frustration. So I decided to act differently. Physically, I was missing my usual amount of exercise so I walked more, forcing myself out of the house for fresh air and accepting a request to sub another teacher’s Nia class. I also took that energy and did some re-decorating. Emotionally, I watched a couple of movies that I loved and visited with friends. For soul food, I picked up a new book, “the Unmistakable Touch of Grace” by Cheryl Richardson. And now I find myself looking forward to the mental tasks that require thinking again.
Most of us hang out in our mind way too much. Do you need a mental holiday to access other parts of you? I’d love to hear your examples of how you respond to your energy (when you think you don’t have any)!
