Is What You Are Doing Giving You Energy?

Someone recently asked me if my volunteer commitments were energizing or draining. As it turns out, I jettisoned all but one volunteer commitment last fall because they had all become millstones, dragging me into a sea of bad feelings and negativity. And as I got rid of each, I became a bit lighter and happier.

I started to think about the stuff I currently have on my plate. Not volunteer commitments, but things I have committed to finishing in one way or another. And I find I should ask the same question.

Someone once told me that you should never say yes to someone unless you can add (silently) "with all my heart". But I think most of us don't apply the same criteria to what we agree to do ourselves.

Many times I put things on my list that really aren't of my intentions. They may come from family members, or colleagues, or friends. All well-intentioned, but at the same time starting with "You should...". Most times these things aren't what I want at all, and I find my energy sinking just thinking about them.

Other times things I embark on projects happy and joyous, just to have circumstances intervene. Perhaps personnel changes, or I have decided that I really don't want to finish it.

When I apply the energy criteria to my own projects, I find that my life is just a bit brighter, happier and easier.