Get an Energy Oomph!

Top 10 lists are a favorite this time of the year. Television, radio and newspapers proclaim their top 10 stories of the previous year. You name it and you can read about it-top actors, top movies, top songs, top books and the list goes on. If we were to put together a top 10 list of client's wishes, the top two spots would definitely belong to wishing for more energy and more time.

Though we can't wave a magic wand and give you extra hours each day, we can provide some practically "magical" ideas for increasing your energy, making each day more productive and joyful.

The great thing about acronyms is that they can help us remember key ideas. We're using the word ENERGY to help you remember six powerful ideas proven to make a profound difference in your overall energy level. Choose 2 or 3 of these ideas and resolve to begin the new year with more energy!

Establish boundaries of behavior. Most of us recognize toxic behaviors and know people that choose to engage in toxic behaviors. Most of us are affected by the "toxic" people in our lives in some way or another. Have you made the decision to protect yourself from those in your life whose negative energy is not good for you? At the very least, what specific action have you taken to nullify negative energy that tries to beat a path to your door?

A client who manages a staff of twenty recently realized her need to establish boundaries. Her staff is what it is, and she must deal with the incredibly disparate nature of her group in terms of their intellect, outlook on the organization, and energy. However, she can choose to establish boundaries for her interactions with them. For example, three boundaries relevant to her relationship with her staff are:

If you have a problem to present, you must also provide three valuable solutions.
Gossip is not tolerated in this organization.
Your lack of planning is not my new crisis.

As a function of these three boundaries, and of her commitment to upholding them, specific members of her staff are less of a drain on her emotional and physical energy.

No more grudges. Unresolved anger, grief, gripes and grudges sap your energy. Popular author Leo Buscaglia tells us, "Don't hold to anger, hurt, or pain. They steal your energy and keep you from love." Restore your energy through the power of GOMO!©, Get Over it, Move On! The five steps to GOMO© include: identify the problem issue in specific terms, express your feelings about the issue, make a decision for apology or forgiveness, do it, and then move on to build trust in the relationship. GOMO© is a powerful model for purer, healthier living as you let go of grudges and welcome greater positive energy. (Click here for free GOMO© articles and product information.)

Establish positive habits. Determine the habits that strengthen you mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Identify the habits that energize you. Here are just a handful of examples. Exercise, nutrition, adequate rest, and recreation feed your body. Fair thinking, healthy relationships, and reducing stress feed your emotional health. Challenging your mind, developing your talents, and applying your skills strengthen your intellectual stamina. Knowing your life's purpose, worship, and prayer build your spiritual life.

Making moment by moment decisions to feed rather than deplete your well being provides for greater energy. Author Frank Crane reminds us of the power of habits, "Habits are safer than rules; you don't have to watch them. And you don't have to keep them either. They keep you." Establish the positive habits that give you energy.

Reduce what you tolerate. Too much of our energy is depleted by the tug of others on our talents, our sympathies, and our goodwill. Heed the following caution. We "put up with" put-downs. We "put up with" tensions. We "put up with" negativity. In putting up with, we lose. We lose energy, momentum, and focus. Enough. Be reminded of famous military leader, George Patton's words, "You need to overcome the tug of people against you as you reach for high goals." Whether family, friend, or foe, save yourself from those who deplete you. If your emotional, faithful, and/or financial support has been depleted, embrace some space and replenish yourself.

In my life, there is a person who has been an Eyore (remember the sad sack in Winnie the Pooh?). "Nothing" has gone his way. He's never had a real opportunity. He blames, he yells, he blows up. He leaves others crying, gasping, and diminished in his wake. I finally came to my senses, and realized that in all the years of offering support, he made little gain in taking responsibility for his emotions and behaviors. Nor did he make an effort to offer much support to others. Once aware, it became my responsibility to overcome the tug he had on me.

Stuart Wilde, author of The Trick to Money is Having Some gives us one more thought as we consider letting go of what we merely tolerate. "You have a divine right to choose whom you will play with and under what circumstances. By eliminating any energy drag, the positive things in your life will resonate faster and faster."

Get to solutions. Seeking solutions rather than focusing on problems nearly always gives new energy. Take a moment to breathe and remember a dilemma that you faced where you also discovered a solution. Were you exhausted or rejuvenated? Ten to one, you were replenished as you experienced new hope, new desire and a fresh perspective. There is power in being a solution seeker. And power often gives energy.

Today, I met with a client who shared a dilemma about the negativity of her staff and their downtrodden habit of seeing little value in their contribution to the organization. Once again, the Eyore habits of poor me, unnoticed me, undervalued me were derailing her efforts. Together, we developed three ideas for engaging her staff, building their energy, and bringing two goals to distinct fruition. Just having a focus on solutions and new ideas energized this client. She jumped up, flung her arms wide, and hooted with expectation for her next staff meeting.

Yield to your values. Hold them dear. Let them be the beacon to your goals. "It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are" (Roy Disney). Give yourself the needed thinking time to know what values are most important to you and then set your goals to honor those values.

Many of us rattle off a fine sounding set of values, but we don't live them on a day to day basis. This disconnect creates inner turmoil. The turmoil is stressful, and the stress depletes energy. On the other hand, to be honest about what is most important to you and then to invest your time and energy to goals that are congruent with those values is energy boosting!

If time and attention to family is a key value, then a goal of making district sales manager that involves significant travel is not a goal that is congruent for you. If flexibility and control over your work is a key value for you, then an eight to five position in a corporation is not a good fit for you. The incongruence of our choices with our deeply held values is a double edged knife. We feel the pain of increased stress as well as depleted energy when we live in a way that conflicts with our most deeply held values.

"Values are the CD's we hear on the players of our minds." (an update of a Jonathan Sacks quote). Our values are ever with us; our actions must honor them.

There are dozens of specific strategies to share that can increase your energy for accomplishing more with the time you have available. However, as is so often the case, we make changes not because of the wealth of strategies, but because of two valuable secrets. Read on to discover what they are!

Two Valuable Success Secrets
to Help You Soar!

The first secret-
Make the decision to do something.

"Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide."--Napoleon Bonaparte

"Shelving hard decisions is the least ethical course."--Adrian Cadbury

"In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing--Theodore Roosevelt

"Your life changes the moment you make a new, congruent, and committed decision."--Anthony Robbins

The second secret-
Focus your effort.

"Often he who does too much does too little."-- Italian Proverb

"If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable." --Seneca

"No steam or gas ever drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara is ever turned into light and power until it is tunneled. No life ever grows until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined."--Harry Emerson Fosdick

"If you chase two rabbits, both will escape." --Unknown Author

"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going."--Anonymous

By Susan B. Wilson, President, Executive Strategies