Intellectually, we may understand that our energy ebbs and flows, and that this impacts our goals, our presence with others and things we want to accomplish.
Flow is great fun, what we aspire to, what inspires us.
What is hard to remember in the moments of ebb is that this is ok, acceptable, normal, part of the process. In being acceptable, shouldn’t we be able to accept? Not so easy. There are periods of time when I tangle with this thought for a while; some phases and stages are less snarled than others. I’ve been working on my podcast for almost a year, (getting close!) and on my writing for several years, and would like to be further down the road. Always wanting more. And I know that the journey is the destination, but still. We humans and our brains.
In my work, I have taken to coaching others to start keeping an accomplishment journal. Not a completed task list, but projects finished, decisions made, items that show progress in what we have deemed important. For several reasons this is a great practice: remembering what has been achieved can shore us up in the moments we are feeling the ebb. Also – if ever faced with another job search, this becomes grist for that mill. We are reminded.
Many days I am able to accept and take advantage of how my energy ebbs and flows; resting when tired and, when “on,” harvesting my energy, happily working long hours. I’ve learned to regularly check in on my physical, emotional and mental state, being as kind to myself as possible. (This was not true in my younger years.)
For those of you in the ebb state, take a moment, look around, accept if you can, note what has been accomplished, and trust that your next session of flow will show up soon.
Shout out: To my father, who passed away in 2002 – he continues to influence my thinking on this. As a highly creative musician and teacher, he was rarely at peace with the ebb state, preferring the flow. He’d have periods of high energy and creativity and then lulls when he had to regenerate. Dad – thank you for allowing me to make peace with this.
Song/Album: Phases and Stages by Willie Nelson.