Filling My Cup

I wish I had more energy! 

I hear this from my clients a LOT. Just last week, I caught myself wishing I wasn’t so wiped out at the end of the day. I even found myself pouring over reviews of super green powders on amazon.

As if my lack of dehydrated barley grass leaf was the reason I felt exhausted. Not that I have anything against barley grass leaf or spirulina or kelp. In fact, my favorite green smoothie recipe is at the end of this post. But drinking a green smoothie is not going to solve the REAL problem.

I shut the laptop, kicked into super self-coaching mode and got to work. I didn’t need super greens, I needed, as my brilliant friend Lisa says, an infusion from all the output. Love that!

You know how the flight attendant tells you to put on your oxygen mask first? Well it’s a great analogy. Simply put: If you don’t put your mask on first, you won’t be there for all those other people when they need you. You will be unconscious.

Oxygen mask, gas tank, glass of water – choose your favorite.

I love this message from inspirational speaker Iyanla Vanzant:

You want to come with your cup full. What comes out of the cup is for y’all. What’s in the cup is mine.

If you’re thinking, that’s selfish or I can’t make time for me, I’m calling you out sister. That’s a LIE! Stop telling yourself this debilitating lie.

Try this instead…

Create a list of the things that FILL YOUR CUP. The things that replenish and restore you. Some examples from my own list include getting a massage, meeting a friend for coffee, reading, snuggling with my dog and enjoying a sit down dinner with the hubby.

Next, consider your schedule. How much time are you willing to set aside for YOU each week? Is it 15 minutes a day. One full day per week? What feels doable to you? It’s okay to start small.

Mark that time on your calendar. Treat it like an appointment. When it’s cup filling time, take a look at your list and find something to do that replenishes you.

Because we all know what happens when we stop watering our plants or we run out of gas. And you’re no different than the rose bush or the car my sweet Chickadee.