It is November 21, 2013.
How many Christmas songs have you heard thus far? Too little or too many?
Yes, my friends, we are in the midst of the holiday madness. During this time of year, many of my clients experience the dreaded “holiday overwhelm.” They are inundated with decisions, both for their business and their personal lives.
And the question du jour is, How do I maintain balance?
First off, let me share my thoughts about balance. . .
Finding balance is doable.
Sustaining balance is what throws many for the proverbial loop. When you are making decisions to honor your quest for balance, think of it this way:
Ask yourself first, What am I saying yes to, and what I am saying no to?
For example, let’s say you are invited to 4 parties in one weekend and you agree to attend all of them. Are you saying yes to being very social, having lots of fun and potentially experiencing exhaustion on Monday morning? Are you saying no to the promise you made to yourself to take some time to recharge your batteries with rest and family time?
(Or, if you choose to say yes to taking time to create a compelling plan to reach your goals, are you saying no to falling into the well of procrastination and self-flagellation for not achieving your intentions?)
Fill in the blanks for yourself and see –
If I say yes to _______________, I am saying no to___________________________.
If I say no to ________________, I am saying yes to _________________________.
Did you notice any shifts in how you experience the process of saying yes or no?
As you become more conscious of the decisions you are making, you will be able to avoid the overwhelm and step into more peace and joy.
One of my coaches (yes, I have a coach and have had many over the years) taught me this about balance. . .
Remember when you were a little kid and spent time on the see-saw (you may call it a teeter-totter)? There were times my sister and I would put our feet on the ground and be “balanced.” That never lasted long, though – we had much more fun with the thrill of rising and falling.
The same is true for our days. We keep ourselves in the “up and down” feeling because that’s what gives us a thrill, rushing from one thing to the next. But that rush (the up) isn’t always good – especially if you keep leaving yourself depleted and stressed out (the down).
But as you look at what you say yes and no to, ask yourself, “Is this moving me closer to my definition of balance or farther away?” This will help you to keep moving yourself closer to balance – which means you can experience more satisfaction and fulfillment throughout your day.
(As you practice asking yourself these powerful questions, you may even find yourself humming your favorite holiday song.)
If you are stuck and feel totally off-balance, say no to feeling drained by saying yes to a complimentary Flourishing Strategy Session with Wendy.
Click here to schedule your 45-minute phone conversation (there’s no cost).
In one call, we can shift your perspective so that 2014 will be your best year yet.
FEATURED ON
