...when there's more time

"There is only one word on the great clock of time: Now.
Down the street Then it's gonna get to the house Never."
Miguel de Cervantes

"Hey, I can't keep up." a typical greeting from a friend of mine - a successful manager, mother of two teenagers, a woman who has been in a hurry since we met. Stress, responsibilities are always at her heels. As soon as she sits down, she overwhelms me with a flood of words. She talks about how work is overwhelming, how the big kids are a big worry, and how she and her husband hardly see each other during the week.

Many of the activities we perform in adulthood are automated. Every morning, every day, they tend to be the same. For a long time. We don't think about what we're doing. We just do it. We're used to it. What happened to our enthusiasm, our dreams, our desires? Sometimes we fall into the delusion that everything will change in time. Until .... children will grow up when we have more time and more money, when we are retired, when we are promoted at work. Waiting for AHRC is debilitating. In all likelihood, there will never be more time. Time is measured the same for everyone today.

LIFE ENERGY or "What am I driving for?"

While searching for the thieves of my inner peace, a question came to me. How did you get used to working with your own energy? Have you ever considered what "fuel" you are running on? What does the gas station look like that you stop at when your tank is empty? What fuels you? Do you have a tried and true way that you ensure your supply of life energy, of optimism?

My other drug is "pressure"

I used to plan so many tasks and activities for each day that even two people would have their hands full to get everything done... I felt great when I checked everything off in the evening. And the next day I raised the bar... until... until the engine stalled... By then I had become so dependent on my idea of a "superwoman" who could do the impossible on the spot that I had to admit to myself that there was probably something wrong with me. The idea of what I could do was at some point both energizing... and a trap.

Today I ask myself another question: To what extent do I need stress, pressure, threats to be able to give space to things that are essential and important to me? Even if new. I feel insecure, uncomfortable in them at first. My habit is to put others before myself and duty (work) before fun and relaxation. I often postpone my dreams and desires for sometime (more like "never"). At the same time, I am aware that if I don't let joy be taken away and replaced entirely by duty, I have no choice but to bite the "sour apple". That is, learning to prioritize myself (where it is important and self-preserving) i.e. enter into conflict, negotiate. I also make time for "doing nothing and dawdling", time to experiment and pursue my (secret) dreams. I play more and learn more (from children especially). Life is like that. It hates one-sidedness and "stagnant waters".
Well-intentioned advice: "At least 60 minutes a day for yourself"

If I don't want to burn out again - and I really don't - I need to take responsible care of my energy and "recharge my batteries". I function just like a cell phone. I give myself, my attention and my energy away all day long. For example, when you're not enjoying work, when you're overweight, when you're in a relationship that's draining, or when you have a health problem, you give out even more energy. You are literally consumed. By night, you're fed up with everything. You sit down in front of the TV and just stare blankly... What can you do?

7 quick resources to restore life energy

• Regular exercise helps me "feel happy". It gives me energy and promotes self-confidence. I move every day to keep my body and mind in shape. 20 - 30 minutes is enough.
• I eat vegetables and fruit before every meal and stick to the principle of "eat until half-saturation".
• I'm learning to love myself at all times. I am kind to myself and when things don't go as I expect (or others expect) I forgive myself. After all, I have another chance. I'm learning to temper my often exorbitant demands...
• I'm breathing (literally). I've been tense as a string all day, so it's becoming more and more important to release the accumulated tension in my body. I bring my attention to myself, my body, my thoughts, my feelings... I stop. I let everything flow freely. I observe. I tune in this way several times each day.
• Visualizing the images we project "in the cinema" of our mind. These films either add or drain energy. I have my own collection of positive images, experiences that I "play" whenever I need them. I have images of goals I want to achieve, dreams I want to live. You can start by creating a collage of images that energize you.
• I have a "magic drawer". When I'm down, I have a magic drawer. It's what gives me energy. I put in it symbols of my accomplishments, awards I've received from clients, friends and family. Anything that has encouraged or moved me... It is my source of inspiration (not only when I am at my worst...)
• I listen to music and dance. Music has magical powers. Have you noticed? It can change your mood in an instant. Dancing relaxes. I'm giving them more and more space in my life.

The future is not ours. We only have today to ourselves and who knows what the next day will be like. And there may be no tomorrow. If you want to improve or have something different in your life, then the opportunity is right now.

More inspiration at www.alenajachimova.com

This article was published with the kind permission of of the magazine Sphere

DIOCHI

casopis-sfera.cz / gnews.cz-HeK