Fact:
Your daily energy stores (physical, spiritual, mental, emotional) are limited, and rest is required to replenish them. So what does that mean to you and me? It’s simple. If we’re dealing with a resource that is finite, it is imperative for us to be mindful of… pay attention to… or closely examine what and whom we pour our energy into. The question is… are you pouring into people or situations that give back?
If you and I are pitchers and what’s inside of us is water, tea, lemonade, etc, we must ask ourselves – are we pouring into cups or glasses that can replenish our thirst when necessary? Or do the glasses and cups we pour into have cracks and holes in them? If those glasses and cups have cracks and holes, how long will if be before there is nothing left to pour out and nothing there for us to take in? Here’s another question…
Have you ever heard the term “good tired”? Good tired is when you’ve worked out in the yard all day—turning an ordinary facade into a beautiful landscape. Good tired is when you’ve toiled in the sun: breaking ground, pulling weeds and planting beautiful shrubs and flowers… carefully arranging those botanical areas into shapes and designs that are pleasing to the eye.
When you’ve finished and you’ve gone inside, had a soothing bath and a nice meal, you go to bed feeling physically exhausted… but it’s a “good tired,” because you know what the payout will be. And when you go outside the next day, whether you’re relaxing in the garden or leaving your home, when you behold the beauty that is the result of your labor, it recharges your mind and spirit, which also has a resultant positive effect on your body (<— not to be taken lightly!).
My point is, when it’s time to go to bed at night, you should go to bed feeling great. If you’re feeling awful when you retire for the evening, or have a bunch of angst or turmoil on your mind, there’s a good chance you’re pouring your energy into people or situations that are not giving back; and if that is the case, your mission when you wake up the next day is to immediately recharge (in whatever way works best for your mind, body and spirit), then then replace those broken “glasses and cups” with new ones that “hold water.”
I’ll leave you with this… There’s an old saying that says, “You get back what you put out.” Well, that is certainly true in the long haul, and is most often true on a daily basis (e.g. If you want to receive a kind word, give a kind word; give a smile, get a smile, etc); but on an acute basis, that isn’t always true. Acutely speaking, we don’t always get back what we put out; and that can be draining. The point I’m making is… be fully aware of the people and situations that you pour your heart into on a daily basis. Do those people or situations replenish you? Are you seeing growth and blossoming not just in them but in your own life? Your energy relative to your time, in this life, is finite. Be mindful of how you pour it out.
All the Best!
—MT
Matt D. Talford is a writer, narrator, and author of three books: “Stuck In An Elevator” – a fictitious tale of passion and self-discovery; “Captain’s Mate: A Practical Guide for Tennis Captains, League Players and High School Coaches”; and his award-winning debut title: ”From Fear to Faith: A Survivor’s Story” – a memoir about overcoming a rare form of what he calls “the C-word.” All three books are currently available in paperback on this website, www.talfordarts.com, or at Amazon; and in eBook format on Amazon Kindle and Apple iBooks. “From Fear to Faith: A Survivor’s Story” is also available in audiobook (narrated by Talford himself) at iTunes, audible.com, and at many other sites where audiobooks are sold. For information on these and other products, click the “Products” link in the menu or visit www.talfordarts.com.
