What’s up, << Test First Name >>? It’s Daniel here once again, thinking some more thoughts and writing them down for you to consider. This week is all about the importance of flossing….just kidding.
Today we’re talking about potential and what it takes to fulfill it! Humans are always reaching for more – a better job, better love, better life – we’ve all got dreams and goals. We read all the books, take all the courses, watch the videos, listen to the podcasts, and attempt to execute the vision – all to level up and create the next version of ourselves.
It’s a beautiful thing to be in pursuit of a more fulfilling life… But how much filling are we actually doing? How much energy and focus do we put toward all the growth and effort and, more importantly, how much effort and energy do we put into the actual human vessel who is meant to step in and experience the life we’re longing for?
Oooo, this is gettin’ deep. Let’s dive in…
chasing dreams can be a nightmare
Real talk: building your dreams is f@#$ing exhausting.
You’d think it would be logical that you would want to take care of yourself along the way, but we humans love to test our limits, don’t we?
As we approach our full potential in this world and continue to stretch the corners of our comfort zone, there’s a host of uncertain and stressful moments that come out of the blue on a fairly consistent basis to test our resolve and adaptability. While this is great for growth, from an emotional perspective it’s totally annoying. Can’t we just teleport and become the best versions of ourselves? If only it were that simple.
When we think of achieving our true potential, we often think about action steps towards the dreams or goals involved. But what about the person who is actually going to live it?
With our endless “to-do” lists we create along the journey, it’s incredibly easy to get wrapped up in action items that are external instead of taking care of the human who has to be the handler of all the energy.
This all comes down to an issue of capacity. If your dream showed up tomorrow, could you handle it? Or would you be crazy stressed out trying to navigate life with an influx of new energy and demands?
If you want a bigger life, you need to expand your capacity to hold the bigness. If you want more capacity, you need more energy. If you want more energy, you have to f$!@ing take care of yourself!
boost your damn battery
I think it’s pretty obvious at this point that we’re passionate about self care. It’s because we’ve seen the amazing effects of people taking care of themselves on a consistent basis.
Simply put – life is hard, self care makes it easier. It also feels good – and when you feel good, you do better – that’s just how it works.
For example – you want to start a business. You have the idea, the plan, the money, the space, the goods – it’s all there… but do you have the energy to execute and embrace it? We often get so laser-focused on the things outside of ourselves that we lose sight of the importance of monitoring and maintaining our levels of energy, stress, excitement and so on.
We’ve been conditioned to think that we need to “give it our all” if we’re going to make something happen. While this turn of phrase is catchy and intended to be a fire-starting statement of empowerment, I respectfully disagree. “Give it some” doesn’t land quite as well, but that’s what we need to do! If you give it your all, you have nothing left. How about we go with “do your best”, with the understanding that “your best” is on a spectrum based on where you’re at each day. That feels lighter, doesn’t it?
I’ve experienced so many people who visit Vortex on the brink of a breakdown or arriving with an emptier than empty tank of gas (I’ve also been in these states several times). I’m always glad to help people recharge, but let’s be clear – self care doesn’t have to mean that you hit the stage of burnout and then take care of yourself. It can also mean being proactive – being conscious of what you’ve activated and gotten yourself into, then taking the necessary steps to ensure you have the capacity to show up and give whatever energy you can as often as possible. This isn’t always easy (which is why, at Vortex, we like to make it easy!)
In order to portray the role of the person who is living the life we want to live, we have to access, monitor and maintain the energy required to become that person.
keep calm and carry on
Beyond all the action that’s required to keep your $#!% together while moving towards your next-level life, there’s lots of ways to stay calm while you keep the momentum going. Though the road to greatness can be rocky, it’ll feel a little smoother if your nervous system isn’t constantly on the fritz.
If you’re not sure what to do, reducing stress is a great first step. Getting enough sleep, taking breaks, taking naps, enjoying nature, being near water and animals, laughing, dancing, reading, coming to Vortex – all great options.
When you wake up every day to do whatever you’re doing to get one step closer to who you want to be, the battery immediately starts to deplete. Don’t forget to plug yourself in for a recharge along the way so you can continue to tap into your power as you tap into your potential.
You’ve got this!