Unburden Yourself

Let go of what is pulling you down.
​~Robin Rosenstiel

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I spoke to a colleague this week, and he mentioned a phrase that seems to sum up this year's energy—and its only October…
I've bitten off more than I can chew.


"I'm scheduled to fly home from a business trip on Thursday to turn around, pack, and get on a cruise on Friday. What was I thinking? So now I'm feeling overwhelmed as I scramble to get as much done as possible around the house and at work, and there is no time for me to relax! Why did I do this to myself?"


The circumstances might be different, but does this sound familiar to you?
Over-committing to others, uncommitting to your own needs, and, as a result, feeling burned out, exhausted, and angry.
​Do you notice this recurring pattern, and are you prepared for a new perspective? 

Try the exercise below and let me know what happens.  Are you seeing how putting your needs last is a technique that hides your inner magic?  If you are ready to tap into your inner magic, join me for my upcoming workshop, Embrace the Wild Within.  Details below.

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Unburden Yourself Exercise:

Get out a pen and a piece of paper and try this exercise:
#1 Identify and track the origin of the pattern of putting your needs last:


What pattern keeps repeating in your life? Where did it originate?
For me, it comes from growing up on a farm where the #1 priority was to do farm chores every morning. Specifically, I had to feed the cattle, chickens, and hogs. After finishing the chores/tasks, I could finally make time for myself. It wasn't a good or bad thing; it was simply a reality. Growing up on a farm taught me to prioritize work and others' needs over mine. In fact, this pattern extends beyond me and is a tradition established by my ancestors to survive.


#2 Evaluate the pattern:
Look at this pattern and your life. Is this pattern still valid and positively serving you? Or is this pattern hindering you? How do you feel at the end of the day when you take on this pattern?

For me, some days, I wake up and rush to check emails and deal with urgent matters.  In this state, I often neglect my needs until the end of the day as I work to through the tasks of the day.  It's only when I finally go to bed that I realize I haven't taken care of myself all day. As a result, I feel exhausted and angry and ask myself, "When will I have time to do what I want to do?"


#3 Establish a new pattern:

What would your new pattern look like?  Feel like?

For me, my favorite way to break a pattern is to do the opposite. This way, I get a sense of what works and what doesn't, and then I can fine-tune the new pattern. So, what if you started each day by putting yourself and your own needs first? Start by taking small steps. Consider spending the first 10-30 minutes of your day doing something you enjoy. This could be yoga, journaling, or simply sitting and watching the sunrise while sipping a latte. Take note of how you feel after taking this time for yourself. Pay attention to how your day goes and how you feel at the end of the day.


#4 Observe:


What triggers you to step back into the old pattern?

Let's face it. You will fall back into the old pattern at some point. Don't beat yourself up over it, as you are only human. Instead, become curious. What triggered you to revert back to the old pattern? How long does it take you to notice you slipped back into the old pattern? What small step can you take today to let go of the old pattern?
For me, when I don't get a good night's sleep.  I immediately slip back into my old pattern when in reality this is when I need to actually focus more time on self-care and not less time.​

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UPCOMING WORKSHOP

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