"Low Battery"
10% of battery remaining

How many times have you seen this message pop up on your smart phone or tablet?  

This battery alert is all too familiar for most of us who are plugged in non-stop, frustrated when our devices threaten to disconnect us from the world.

But, do you recognize the warning from your body that notifies you that your batteries are getting low?

Recently, I found that I'd misplaced one of my chargers.  The result:  using one charger to attempt to maintain 2 devices.  I didn't allow one device to fully charge before disconnecting it from its power source but still expected it to keep on working for long periods of time.

The realization dawned on me that we often do the same thing.  We don't always pay attention to how much charge we have and it's not until the alert goes off (or worse yet the device dies altogether) that we realize we need to plug in.

So, it's got me thinking about how consistently I plug into my Source to keep my battery fully charged.  As I develop a system to put into place to minimize the frequency of draining my battery completely, here is what I am considering to avoid hitting zero:

1. Identify what drains your energy and eliminate it.  Things like incomplete tasks or projects, unanswered email and voicemail messages as well as unresolved situations and conflict, all act to drain you of precious energy.  Make a list of all the energy drains that come to mind and create an action plan to plug the leaks until you can make permanent repairs.
2. Make time for rest and sleep.  Chronic sleep deprivation is a widespread problem in the U.S. today.  This is the time needed for your body to restore and support your physical and emotional health.  Remember both quantity (how much) and quality (how well) of sleep are important.  Set a cut-off time for work, develop a bedtime routine, and minimize distractions that may interrupt your sleep.
3. Engage in activities that naturally recharge your batteries.  Pay attention to the times when you feel like you are in flow with life.  Generally time will seem to fly by and you're fully present with what is happening within and around you.  For me, this includes being in nature, connecting with friends and family, practicing generosity, listening to music, and creating space for silence and stillness in meditation.

And finally, the recognition that my spiritual health is the key to maintaining my physical and emotional health reminds me that I need to consistently plug into my Source (who I call God) and nurture that relationship.  This is now my Priority #1.

I'd love to hear what makes your list and what you identify as your top priority for keeping your batteries charged.  

Leave a comment below.

BALANCE.  It’s a word that's used often in our culture.  Many of us are constantly seeking it.  But what does it actually mean?  

What would it feel like to live a balanced life?  What would you do if you could free up just one hour each day to focus on yourself?  

It is possible.  Life  feels better when you strategically align the life you live with the person you are becoming.  

Living an authentic life leads to a balanced life.

In September 2012 the New York Times ran a story on straightening out the work-life balance, When the Work-Life Scales Are Unequal.  Many of us work 40-60 hours per week (or more) and that doesn't include the work of parenting or personal and family commitments.  

I've come to believe that “work-life balance” is a myth.  Think about it, is your work really not a part of your life?  It may not feel like it, but the reality is you are living your life (although maybe unconsciously) while you are working.

I used to think that balance was something you found and then life was good from that point on.  Now I know better.  Finding and maintaining balance in your life is a dynamic process…balancing.  

What feels balanced to you in this moment may not feel as balanced one week from now.  The process of balancing requires many subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, shifts in our internal and external world. 

It's like practicing the tree pose in yoga.  It looks like you're perfectly balanced and yet there are many tiny movements and adjustments required to maintain the pose (Unfamiliar with tree pose?  Learn more with this 2 minute video from Yoga Journal).  Take a minute to attempt the pose - you'll see what I mean.

Now I use the term life balancing.  It's not something that will magically happen.  I work daily to create habits and rituals that support balancing my life.  It takes some time and effort but the return on investment is Big (yes, with a capital B).

Here are 3 things that are helping me to move towards feeling a greater sense of balance in daily life:

1.  Set the intention.  When I deliberately focus on cultivating balance in my life, the conditions that allow me to feel more balanced seem to appear.  Energy follows your attention.  When you are paying attention to how much balance you sense in your life, it raises your awareness and helps you to know if you're on track.  Remember as you pay attention to be kind to yourself in the process.  What you learn will help you to know what may need to change to create more balance and harmony in your life.


2.  What is my vision for my life?  Asking this question regularly has helped me clarify what it is I'm wanting out of life.  The focus is not just on what I want to do.  It includes how I want to be; how I want to show up in the world.  Having a clear vision helps me in making decisions that support and move me in the direction of my vision.


3.  Practice making decisions and maintaining healthy boundaries.  Fear of making the wrong decision has paralyzed me at times...leading to no decision and inaction.  This only creates more stress and throws you way out of any sense of balance you may have had. 


I have learned that not making a decision is passive action; you are allowing someone else to determine what happens rather than stepping up to lead your life.  


This lesson has been invaluable.  I now practice making more decisions, giving myself permission to make a mistake knowing that it's an opportunity for learning...not the end of the world.


I also practice saying, "No" more often.  This is simple and yet it feels so hard.  I've recognized there are times when I don't say no because of fear of disappointing others or wanting to avoid conflict.  I now ask myself if taking on a new commitment, responsibility, or task will move me closer to my vision or away from my vision.  This has helped tremendously in being able to clearly say no without feeling guilty about that response.

Life balancing is a key component to thriving.  And, it is possible.

Health and well-being are not simply the absence of disease.  Love, joy, energy and a sense of purpose are some of the ways I define well-being, along with creating enough space in my life to show up and be fully present with the experiences I am having.  This is my motivation for balancing my life.

I'm interested in hearing what gets in your way of balancing your life and what's helped you to overcome those obstacles.  Leave a comment below.

"Life has become too busy.  I need to slow down."  I heard myself silently repeat these words all too often throughout my week.  Each time I said them, I acknowledged that something needed to change, yet nothing did.  

As I sat down for the umpteenth time to create a plan to better manage my time, I had a revelation.  I am the common denominator throughout the periods of busyness.

I realized I didn't need another time management system to learn.  I needed to learn the art of self-management.

While I said my intention was to slow down and create more space in my life, I continued to take on new projects, volunteer for tasks and committees, etc.  

The question I really needed to answer:  "Why was I (sometimes unconsciously, sometimes not) keeping myself so busy?"

As I reflected on this question in my meditation, I started to notice how uncomfortable I was with "down time".  Even when there were no deadlines to meet, I found myself on my laptop checking email, researching ideas, and surfing the net.  It would be one thing if this activity led to greater productivity and results; unfortunately, that wasn't generally the case.

When I wasn't busy, there was a sense of dis-ease as difficult emotions emerged:  sadness, loneliness, and disappointment just to name a few.  Working had become a convenient excuse to avoid dealing with these feelings.

Once I recognized and accepted this truth, I had a choice:  continue to do things the way I always had and get the same results; OR do something different.  I decided to do the latter.


So, how do you both slow down AND manage the difficult emotions that arise?

1. Give yourself permission to feel what you feel.  Tara Brach teaches about the importance of recognizing what is happening in the moment.  Naming the feelings that are present take away alot of the fear that they may bring.  Emotions come and go like the weather changes...remember, it's temporary.
2. Make time and space in your schedule to "just be".  We have become a species of human doings rather than human beings.  Avoid the temptation to fill every minute of your schedule with something to do.  Create opportunities to simply practice being.  These valuable blocks of time often bring many insights and solutions to problems you've been looking for.
3. Honor yourself by setting healthy boundaries.  Set a cut-off time for work each evening and stick to it.  Say no (No.  It is a complete sentence) to additional work unless you first remove something from your plate.
4. Find support.  There is value in creating a circle of support (COS).  These are people who will encourage you and point out when you are stuck in a story that's holding you back.  Your circle may be made up of trusted friends, a mentor, coach, therapist or mastermind group.  Tell your COS what you're doing and elicit their support.  Partner with someone who also wants to make changes for greater accountability.  And don't be afraid to ask for help.

It's important for you to open your heart and mind in this process.  Be gentle with yourself.  When you prioritize taking care of you, your life shifts in positive and unexpected ways.  And you give others permission to do the same as you model being present for your life.  This is the key to balancing your life.

Your loved ones will thank you.

Your future self will thank you.

Leave a comment below and let me know what helps you to slow down.