This week has been a time of reflection for several reasons. There is a level of busy-ness that comes with being part of a family whether or not you have anything else going on. And right now, we have a lot else going on. There is a new business (mine), there is a new job in the works (my husband’s), there is one child doing his final term of primary school, and the other… well, she is a two-year-old so let’s just say she is always busy no matter what else is happening.
Oh and did I mention we are moving overseas as well? So there’s that.
As you can imagine, the to do list has grown a fair bit. Now if you’re anything like me, you don’t have the same motivation levels every single day of the year. Some days I am a powerhouse of energy and activity, others not so much. And normally, that would be okay. Thing is, at the moment, with all the ‘doing’ that is necessary to get everything done that needs to get done, I’ve been feeling really guilty when my energy drops. And then a kind of cascade effect takes place: energy drop, guilt, further energy drop, further guilt, and so on.
Obviously this does not produce great results. So yesterday I realised that there are a few things I can do to keep my energy up and skip out of the loop of low energy I had been creating. Here are the reflections that really helped me rise up and get to the point of actually writing this post for all of you today.
Do something that gives you joy
Requires no explaining, and raises your energy so effectively. Plus, joy is fun.
Look beyond the immediate to the bigger picture
Again, fairly self-explanatory. One example of this could be to just go for a walk around the block, or do anything to shift your perspective away from the ‘problem’ at hand. Even a cup of tea might do the trick if you’re into that kind of thing.
Let yourself off the hook
Assuming you are human, I am giving you permission to have energy fluctuations and be kind to yourself when it happens (which ironically will help you get your energy back at least twice as fast, go figure?). This is actually really powerful because it immediately neutralises the downward spiral of guilt that people (especially mothers) can feel when things don’t get done.
Prioritise ‘being’ over ‘doing’
Get it through your head that how you are when you do stuff massively influences the outcome of what you do every time. Then act on on that knowledge. Pull back from the do, do, do so that you can ensure your state of being is conducive to the task at hand. This will allow a freeing up of energy and create a way better flow to the day anyway. Plus, you will do anything better from a positive state of mind than you will from a state of ‘meh’.
Of course, if you are in a family, especially one with kids, you will get interrupted. This is part and parcel of being a parent. And yep, it can be frustrating at times. These are the times that I have to force myself to remember that actually I am so grateful to have these little teachers in my life to remind me how much I have to be grateful for (loopy but effective). It is also a really good time to seek the source of the frustration, really feel it and see it as an opportunity to learn about yourself and how you respond to things. Ask yourself with love and kindness what it is you need to release or let go of. There is great power in awareness.
My wish for you dear reader is that the love for what you truly are, and what you have in your life, trumps the day-to-day bumps and humps. I hope that you can remain ever-true to yourself whist all the while transforming any energy slumps into great moments of opportunity.
Alena Turley is an Australian mentor for mothers. Founder of the pioneering blog, the Soul Mama Hub, her wellbeing membership offers a powerful pathway for mothers ready to go from over-extended, stuck in the daily grind, to empowered, inspired and energised so they can become the CHANGEMAKERS they dream of being.
