Are you missing your "spark"? The "thing" that makes you want to get up in the morning and sing? Why is that? What is it that's getting in the way? The answer is probably DRAINS. One of the definitions of drain is to exhaust physically or emotionally. Does this sound like what you are feeling? Do you lack the energy, drive, or ambition that you would like to have in one or more areas of your life? If so, it's time to recognize where your drains are so they can be properly exorcised. How do you identify energy drains? They are the things that leave you felling unfulfilled, depressed, discouraged, exhausted, hopeless, or passionless. They can occur as a result of employment woes, too many demands, educational pursuits, relationships, health issues, or any other thing or person that touches your life. A very important point to remember is that energy drains are incredibly personal and unique. Something that is a serious drain to one person could be the ultimate passion of another. Take Helen and Naomi as prime examples of this point. Helen is a working mom. She gets up at six in the morning, gets herself dressed and carries her sleeping son into her babysitters home by seven, so that she can begin her forty-five minute commute to work each morning. She thinks about Kyle often throughout the day, and sometimes has to fight tears as she envisions the things that the babysitter gets to see him do, that she ends up missing. She had hoped that by now she would be used to being a career mom, but she hasnt. She can hardly believe that she's been doing this for two years. Naomi is a stay at home mom. She left a very lucrative career to stay at home with her daughter. it's been nine months and she is miserable. Katie is so demanding that Naomi barely manages to get dressed most days, and never seems to be able to get anything accomplished around the house until after Katie goes to bed at night. Naomi feels isolated because she was used to the hustler and bustle of her office, but shies away from spending time with other stay at home moms because they seem to enjoy the life that she loathes. It seems as though Helen and Naomi would each find their passion and eliminate their drains, if they could switch places. Short of this ideal situation, lets see what other things they could do to alleviate their drains. Helen is unhappy because she spends so much time away from her son. If Helen had to keep a full-time job, she could be home for most of her sons waking hours if she found a second shift job working three until eleven. If she could make due on a part-time wage her flexibility would be even greater and perhaps she could work solely during bedtime hours. If Naomi felt strongly about being home with her daughter, she could start a home-based business and have someone on-hand to provide childcare if it were the type of business that did not allow for distractions. She could also contact her previous employer to see if there is anyway that she could still remain involved with the company in a home-based capacity. This way, she does not have to develop new business relationships, and will be able to be on-hand for her daughter. In order to change the things that were draining them, in each case, these women had to determine what the problem was, be willing to say NO to the things that were draining them, and decide what solution they wanted to say YES to in it's place. Unfortunately, there are times when we are unwilling or unable to say NO. So, what then? Thats when you need to decide how to change your perspective so that you are okay with things the way they are. For example, if you decide that you wanted to eat healthier and exercise for weight loss, but each time you put yourself on a regiment your plan completely fell apart, leaving you feeling drained. This might be an ideal situation to determine that you are OKAY with not doing the healthier eating and weight loss program at this time. Perhaps shelving the plan until a later date, or reducing the number of days that you plan on exercising, etc. There are many situations like this in life, don't let them drain you needlessly. Ultimately, you are the Captain of your ship. Only you can determine exactly what you can and cannot tolerate. Have you identified your drains? Once you do, you must put plans into action to make your energy drains go down the drain! Be willing to say NO to the things/circumstances/people that drain you and replace them with what you do want. Get rid of your drains today and recharge your batteries for a passion filled existence. |
