Every one of our thoughts, emotions and behaviours has an energy consequence, for better or for worse. The ultimate measure of our lives is not how much time we spend on the planet, but rather how much energy we invest in the time that we have.
The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal BY JIM LOEHR AND TONY SCHWARTZ
I used to think that time was our most valuable resource. I’ve come to question that, thinking that perhaps energy is. Awareness of what is taking our energy is a good starting point. How much do you have for the things you love or truly care about? I think about people working so hard in the office all day and coming home with very little energy left for their kids or partner. Who gets the best of you, and is that what you want?
Our remembering self is a storyteller. -Daniel Kahneman
Then there is the voice in your head. How aware of this voice and the tone it uses on you, are you? Does it break you down constantly? Does it build you up, saying it’s ok, you will do better next time when things don’t work out? Where did you first hear this voice when you grew up? Who spoke to you in a similar way?
Sometimes these voices keep us safe. They want us not to embarrass ourselves, or make mistakes. But sometimes they just keep us from doing anything. Sometimes, we are fighting with both sides. We might retaliate, doing spiteful, unthoughtful things just to get out of the loop. But this takes our energy and it seems like these voices always know best but they also get off scot-free.
Understanding the internal compass that motivates you, can make the voices unified. You use up less energy when they are working together and the more coherent, the higher your confidence. This is work that coaches uncover for athletes. We can train these voices to work with us and towards what we want, tell ourselves a story, that eventually becomes a reality.
What story am I making up right now? Brené Brown teaches us that owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it.