The One Shift That Buys You Back Your Time & Energy

Lori Fields, LCSW
Jul 24, 2017 · 3 min read

It’s late afternoon, the air is warm and the sun is beginning to set, the temperature feels perfect in the shade.

I’m out on our deck hoping to enjoy some quality time with my book. And yes, I’m also hiding from the kids, which you may begin to realize is a theme for me!

Sitting in a lounge chair, overlooking the pond, I notice a Wasp buzzing around me. I’m not concerned about getting stung, I’m just calmly observing.

I’m reminded of an excerpt I read a few days ago by Mark Nepo, where he talks about a similar experience with a bee and how our tendency is to swat away those things that make us feel uncomfortable or afraid.

As I sit here calmly, simply watching the insect do its thing, not needing to react out of fear or worry, I notice that this little insect wants nothing to do with me.

The insight here is about being mindful of how we exchange our energy. What’s the value of reacting to what scares or annoys us as we go throughout our days?

We react because we’re hoping to feel better in some way, but I have found that reacting to the little things that bother you never seems to produce the results you seek.

Getting your life to look and feel the way you want often requires doing less than what you’re used to doing. This is usually the most difficult concept to trust is true and then apply to your everyday decision-making.

Concerning yourself with all the things that bother you is like pushing a problem uphill and wondering why progress feels slow and heavy and hard.

Your work throughout the course of your day is to decide whether the exchange you are about to make of your time, emotion and energy is a worthy trade. Meaning, will it leave you in the most powerful feeling state possible to help you accomplish what you care about most today?

Remember, the relationship you have with yourself informs every decision you make.

When you get heated emotionally in response to insignificant things you end up upset, disappointed and drained. You end up on the path to destruction rather than the road to deliberate, powerful living. Only one of these paths is going to take you where you dream of going.

Mark Nepo shares that the more we resist (fight or swat away), the more we feel our own weight and wear ourselves out. It’s like swimming against an incredibly strong current. Fight the current too hard, for too long and you put yourself at risk for drowning.

It’s just as much a spiritual lesson as a literal one; we can’t carry around extra weight and then wonder why we don’t feel lighter and more free.

What might happen if you stopped reacting to all that was happening around you?
What if you decided that you no longer have time to be bothered by who anyone else is being?

You may discover than you have a whole lot more time and seriously powerful energy to focus on what you’re looking to create. Now that, my friend can feel more scary than being stung by a bee!

love and light,
xx Lori Fields, LCSW

PS: The principles I share with you may sound simple, but can feel challenging sometimes to integrate into your everyday life.

Call to Action

If you’ve tried other methods for improving your life and still feel disappointed, please lean on me for support. Sign up for my newsletter and receive FREE, ongoing guidance to help you get the most out of your life.Life-long, meaningful change is my specialty. It’s easier (and far less work)than the way you’re operating now.

Lori Fields, LCSW

Written by

Peak Performance Coach. Wife, mother of 3, entrepreneur. Get FREE support for reaching your goals @ https://www.yourworthyself.com/

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