Energy Flow!

You have probably heard of a time study where you keep track of where and how you are using your time. This can be a really helpful tool for brining mindful awareness to places where time may be used more wisely.  

But have you ever heard of an Energy Study? Same basic concept, except instead of paying attention to your use of time, you pay attention to the way Energy Flows and how you tend to use it.

For example, I was recently talking with someone about their desire to give some time and space to a new creative effort.  In the course of our conversation, we processed their Energy Flow and discovered that the mornings are a time when they feel at their most alert and sharp. So, they scheduled some creative time for the morning.  Similarly, another friend and I discussed how their Energy is super low in the morning, but they feel like they can get twice as much done between 9 PM and midnight, so they are considering how to use that discovery to their advantage.

Now, maybe you are thinking, "That might be nice, but I have this thing called a job that requires certain hours from me." Or perhaps you're like my other dear friend who says, "I'm not really a morning or a night person. I'm more of a brunch person!"  I certainly understand there are outside influences that dictate components of our schedule and lives, but how could paying attention to our Energy Flow help us work within the frameworks that we have?

What are the tasks that require the most attention from you, and how might being aware of your Energy help you schedule or prioritize those? Are you like me and have an Energy slump in the afternoon? If so, are there projects that require less focus or that involve more activity and movement that could work well in those times? And what about the responsibilities that you know require a lot of Energy from you? How are you resting before and after them to make sure your overall Energy levels aren't getting too depleted?

Here's to working with our Energy Flow this week!

Be Well,

Stephen

Center was created to support individuals and teams so they can live from their Purposeful Center.  We specialize in professional coaching and leadership development and we’d love to support you!  Click on our Services page to book a free consultation.

Freedom! Yes, and...!?

I facilitated a team collaboration experience last week. One of the tools I invited the group to utilize is something I affectionately call, "The Golden Rule of Brainstorming & Improv Comedy." It's the simple statement, "Yes, and...!"  I've shared about this idea in the past, and in light of our national holiday this week, I thought of another application for it.

As we celebrate the 4th of July this week, we will hear lots of calls to celebrate the freedoms we have as people who live in America.  There is certainly a place for truly being grateful for our freedom!  And...as a professional coach one of the frameworks I use on a regular basis is asking people what their next steps are to help them keep moving forward. One of the questions I sometimes use to frame this forward approach is, "And what would you like to do about that?"

When I couple these two ideas together, it seems like we could easily add a simple "Yes, and..." to our gratitude for having freedom. In other words, it seems like the real question related to this freedom is, "What do we want to do with it?!"  Yes, let's celebrate and be grateful we have all of this hard-won freedom in our lives, AND how are we going to use these freedoms in a way that takes them seriously and with the amount of responsibility they demand.  

For example, how do we want to use our freedom for the common good of our fellow citizens? Do we need to raise our voice and speak up with anyone trying to convey a message for some kind of change? How does voting fit into the "yes, and..." mindset connected to our freedom? Is there someone around us who is being overlooked, and how could we be an advocate for them in a way that helps them feel seen and heard? What other ideas come to your mind?

Yes, we can and should celebrate and be grateful for our freedom, AND how are we going to respond to that freedom we have been given?

Here's to considering our "yes, and..." responsibilities as we celebrate our freedom this week!

Be Well,

Stephen

Center was created to support individuals and teams so they can live from their Purposeful Center.  We specialize in professional coaching and leadership development and we’d love to support you!  Click on our Services page to book a free consultation.

Help!

I've been working on a project in my backyard over the weekend. Did you know there's a difference between how an idea looks in your mind when it's finished, and the various steps that are required to actually get there?!  At some point I realized there wasn't any way I could complete the project without some extra help. That conclusion also reminded me that I have a hard time asking for help, mainly because I don't want to inconvenience others. Fortunately, I have a partner who reminded me that if the tables were ever turned and other people were asking me for help, I would be very willing to lend a hand if I was able. So, a request went out, some extra hands showed up, and the vision in my head is starting to take shape.

I think this pattern for asking for help is true for many of us. We are very willing to lend a hand to others if they need it, but we gravitate toward self-sufficiency when it comes to our own lives.  Our motivations may be different for why we do that, but asking for help can feel like a real challenge. However, none of us can survive, let alone thrive in our lives without the help of others around us. Whether it's for a physical task or an emotional situation, needing help isn't a sign of weakness. It's actually a sign of maturity and strength when we can be vulnerable and reach out to others we trust for support.

Where do you struggle to ask for help? Are there situations you are facing right now that would be better if you had the input of others? Who do you trust that you could reach out to for help? Would it be easier to ask if you thought about the roles being reversed? 

Here's to asking for Help when we need it this week!

Be Well,

Stephen

Center was created to support individuals and teams so they can live from their Purposeful Center.  We specialize in professional coaching and leadership development and we’d love to support you!  Click on our Services page to book a free consultation.