Growing up, I was taught that the world is a place of scarcity. That we wont have enough if we don't 'behave' a certain way. Be that money, love, fun or self fulfillment, the message is the same. There simply isn't enough to go around.
My parents, whilst not perfect had their hearts in the right place. They taught me caution. Invest in the safety of property. Make sure I have my superannuation sorted. Don't expect too much of myself. Recognise, that I need to exercise delayed gratification to set myself up for success. OK that last sentence is a stretch, but it speaks to me!
This year, in one area in particular, I've experienced scarcity in a way I haven't experienced before. I literally spent 2017, so focussed on my career that I exhausted myself and my ability to connect with people. It took sitting down with my business coach to find clarity. When she challenged me to assign % of energy to various areas of my life, work took up 75%. Friends and family, 10% each & exercise 5%. It's not just about the hours in the office, it's the constant thinking and even dreaming about the office.
This is not good behavior, it is, however, the awful truth. I felt as though I didn't have enough time to actively engage with all those I care about. That, in fact, my job is so hard & consuming that it's not my fault. I'm busy, I'm stressed, I'm tired.
Ouch. Even writing that last paragraph feels uncomfortably awful. I pride myself on being a woman (girl) that is driven to contribute positively to the lives of those around me. Yet, I have neglected many of those whom I care about.
Why am I writing about this now? Well, because sometimes it takes the clarity of passing through an experience to truly understand it. All year, I've felt somewhat resentful for those that didn't appreciate my 'busy-ness'. Like they were wrong for expecting more of me than I was able to give. If this is you, I am so, so, so, sorry. It was me who was wrong.
In the last month or two, there's been a big shift. I've consciously stepped back from the enormous energy I was giving to my 'job'. I still do the same amount of work, I just don't give it all my energy. How about that?! Meanwhile I've stepped wholeheartedly into the direction of my passion for health and wellness. In particular, I'm investing lots of time into doTERRA (essential oils). The interesting part is that it's time and energy that I didn't realise I had to give.
So where did this energy come from? Seems to me, it was there the whole time. It was being spent scrolling and channel changing and 'winding down'. Don't get me wrong, these aren't bad things. At least if they're moderated. But the truth is, society has gotten pretty rubbish at moderating. At least I have.
In this new chapter of my life I'm connecting with more people, helping people, thinking about their health and what I can offer. Learning a bucket load. So I've not only re-calibrated how I spend my time and energy, I've found I've got more of it to give. Talk about game changing!
2018 is going to be a very different year for me. With my priorities in order, and my goals, dreams and intentions refreshed, I look forward to a year of enormous abundance. In fact a life of abundance. I have so much to give, and I can't wait to do just that. There totally is enough time, enough money, enough of everything actually.
Reality checks are healthy. Do you need one too? Get in touch if you want to chat, I'm excited to be so lit up and ready to serve you. This is the good stuff, the really, really good stuff!
