Top Five Energy Drains...Top Five Energy Boosters

"These are the times that try men's souls." Those words, written by patriot Thomas Paine more than 225 years ago are surely as true today as they were then. No we are not fighting a war on our own soil, but we are looking at conditions most of us (perhaps excepting those who lived through the Great Depression and World War II) have never seen nor imagined. Four dollar a gallon gas, food prices no longer creeping but leaping up weekly, mortgages being foreclosed at record rates, world conditions that are anything but peaceful and harmonious. So what's a person to do...succumb to the fear and desperation or shift the focus?

I hope you'll join me this week in shifting your focus; in identifying your biggest energy drains and defining the energy boosters that enable you to keep your head "when those around you are losing theirs;" to not merely survive but to thrive during these challenging times. This is not simply denial or putting on blinders so as not to see what's happening "out there." But when the tough get going I believe we have to become even more rigorous about where we spend our precious time and energy...we can either make withdrawals (energy drains) or deposits (energy boosters). Here are my top five in each category.

Energy Drains

1) Immersing yourself in the daily litany of bad news. I have sworn off reading the paper and have seriously limited my exposure to broadcast news and other media which do little to inform but lots to inflame our worst fears. I bet if you never watched another news broadcast you would still know how much gas costs. You would still find out what was happening in the world. It is important to be informed and aware, but constantly swimming in the sea of bad news and the even worse predictions about the future does little to empower us to take action. If anything it causes a debilitating sense of despair and hopelessness. Just for a week, take a hiatus from watching the news or reading anything but the comics in the daily paper. Pay attention to how you feel.

2) Being around toxic people. You know them, they're the ones (hopefully not you) who find little to be happy about but so much to be negative about. Having a conversation with them is about as uplifting as a toothache. If you can't avoid them altogether then at least become adept at changing the topic of conversation to what is uplifting, encouraging and positive. By all means limit your exposure to them. And if you're really courageous, ask them what makes them happy or how their negative focus is benefiting them. It might actually stop them long enough to make them think. Or not. In any case you have a choice about who you spend your time around. Be selective.

3) Worrying about the future. The Dalai Lama said it well: "If there's nothing you can do about a thing, then there's no need to worry. If there's something you can do about a thing then there's no need to worry." Worry is fear's genetic predecessor. Spend enough time worrying and pretty soon you've worked yourself up into such a state of fear and anxiety you actually give yourself something (think disease) to obsess over. If you must worry, set the timer for three minutes and give yourself permission to worry mightily for three minutes, then shut the spigot off. After the three minute time limit, create a worry list so you will remember what you wanted to worry about next time you have three minutes. Silly isn't it?

4) Gossip. Not only is gossip a huge energy drain, it can be downright destructive. Friendships and other relationships have been ruined by gossip. Make the commitment to give it up. Between that and not talking about "how bad things are" you may find your conversations somewhat curtailed, but in due time I predict you'll find more uplifting and productive topics to discuss or better yet, it will give you time to start doing things that actually improve the world.

5) Too much clutter. I have just gone through a major renovation of my office and probably filled a dumpster with items that were serving no useful purpose and were simply taking up space in my life. Getting rid of 20-year-old training manuals and articles I clipped out of a magazine years ago has cleared my office out so much I feel as if I've lost a hundred pounds. In fact I have...a hundred pounds of paper! The truth is, anything you haven't looked at in over a year or that you don't need to keep for tax or legal purposes can probably be safely disposed of. After all, we have Google now! But paper isn't the only thing weighing us down...clothing that doesn't fit (and probably never will again), broken stuff stuck in junk drawers, appliances (think bread and pasta makers here) that are simply taking up space in cupboards are all fair game. While the purging process can feel emotionally draining at first (letting go of stuff you've used to define and protect yourself can be very threatening) eventually the shock wears off and a newfound sense of freedom and lightness replaces it. I challenge you this week to start with a drawer or closet and begin the process of letting go and lightening up.

Energy Boosters

Just reducing the energy drains in our lives provides an immediate beneficial energy boost. But there are also conscious actions we can take that are powerful energy boosters. During the times "that try men's souls" the more energy boosters you have and the fewer energy drains the more power and influence you have to make a positive difference in the world around you. So here are my top five energy boosters:

1) Exercise. Before you run screaming to remove the laundry drying on your unused treadmill or Bowflex, keep in mind that energy produces energy. If you find yourself constantly exhausted it may be you're tired because you're doing too little in the way of regular exercise to boost your energy levels. Life tends to be stressful (understatement of the century). If you don't do something to burn off the stress residues that build up in your system, eventually it becomes the sludge that seriously slows down or eventually stops your engine. Research repeatedly shows that as little as 17 minutes a day...17 minutes a day of exercise is sufficient to get you in better shape, and release happy endorphins into your system. Quit making excuses for why you can't and start finding ways to work exercise into your life. As the old saying goes, "you're worth it!"

2) Contemplation or meditation. This is not about religion. This is about your sanity. Spending as little as five minutes a day simply quieting the mind and focusing on the breath can bring tremendous relief from stress. Quit looking for the "magic pill" that will calm you down and learn some simple techniques for calming yourself down. The Relaxation Response written more than 30 years ago by Harvard's Dr. Herbert Benson is an excellent resource that demystifies the meditation process. One of the simplest ways to calm the mind is by either consciously observing your breath or watching your thoughts. Simply close your eyes and focus on the breath or pay attention to the thoughts your busy brain is producing. If you choose the conscious observation of thought, remember not to join the "brain dance" by engaging with the thoughts but simply observing them. When they hook you and drag you in (they almost always will), simply step back, refocus on your breath and pretend you're watching your thoughts run by on a ticker tape. Eventually the busy brain decides you're no fun and you can actually experience that peace so many habitual meditators speak about.

3) Spend time around happy people. Who is the happiest person you know? Spend time around them. It might be a child or a pet too. Just as spending time around toxic people can drag you under, spending time around the optimistic, happy, resilient people (or pets) in your life can boost your energy. Just be certain that you aren't the toxic drag they are trying to avoid. Bring your own brand of positivity to the conversation and you'll both be energized!

4) Laugh. Did you know there are actually laughing clubs forming around the world. I heard about one in Korea (where laughter is often frowned upon) for women who were recovering from cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Just watching the women laugh from the tips of their toes to the tops of their heads made me laugh. And of course, research has repeatedly verified that positive thoughts and laughter do as much to reduce pain and improve health as any man-made medication on the market. Remember that joy, the kind that causes endorphin-producing laughter, is not about entertainment. It is about getting in touch with the child within that can laugh at just about anything. Stop right now and see if you can at least smile...then chuckle...now go ahead and laugh out loud!

5) Give to others. The other day I did something I've wanted to do for a while now. I delivered weekend food bags to elementary schools in our area. These bags are given to children who would go hungry on weekends if it weren't for these "care packages." I took my 16-year-old son with me. It is hugely eye-opening and humbling to recognize that there are so many who go without the simple things most of us take for granted. The "high" from doing just that one good deed lasted for a couple of days. Believe me I will be looking for more opportunities to do good and I invite you to do the same. You won't have to look far. Your community probably also has a weekend food program for children. Elementary schools are always looking for reading tutors to work with kids. There are thousands of ways to give back. Just Google "volunteer opportunities" in your community to get you started The only thing volunteering will cost you is some time. The return on your investment is "priceless."

We may not be able to alter gas prices or change the global economy, but each of us can ask ourselves regularly whether our way of living and being is a drain or a boost to the world's psychic energy system. Start this week to consciously focus on the energy boosters and watch your life and those you touch become richer in the process. These may be the "times that try men's souls." They may also be the best days of our lives. The choice is ours.

Quote of the Week:

"Pessimism leads to weakness. Optimism to power."

~~William James
American philosopher and psychologist

"Transforming Your Potential into Performance!"
Betty Mahalik, PCC Life & Business Coach, Trainer bettym@dynamic-coaching.com www.dynamic-coaching.com	Dynamic Solutions 5240 Mustang St. Las Vegas, NV 89130 tel: 702 658-4425 fax: 702 658-5802 mobile: 702 443-0175
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