And now you're running a marathon

43962-highway.jpg

As I move past the "sprint" and into the "marathon" part of this pandemic, I notice where my internal drive is at. I'm all about elevating my game, but can find myself struggling to maintain energy and focus. Where are you at?

Perhaps you've learned you'll be working from home until the new year; or you're a manager trying to keep your team remotely engaged; or you're an entrepreneur balancing recovery with the threat of a second wave. How do you keep driving forward?

When the urgency and adrenaline of external crisis wanes, we can use our emotional intelligence to engage our intrinsic motivation. On a day-to-day basis, ask yourself:

  • "How can I more fully live my core values?"

  • "What opportunities are available for me to utilize my strengths?"

  • "How do I intentionally access rejuvenating "source" energy?"

You're running a marathon, not a sprint. Evolve your strategies.

To explore how to re-energize yourself and your team for the marathon ahead, book a discovery call.

Arousal: Deciding that your Stress energy is Excitement energy

Arousal: Deciding that your Stress energy is Excitement energy

While our reflex when we’re stressed might be to try and calm ourselves down, we’re missing an opportunity to harvest all that energy our bodies are providing for us to pursue our purpose. The only obstacle is the story we tell ourselves about what our arousal means.

Noticing the consequences of your choices

Notice the consequences of your choices.

Examples: How would I feel if I...

...went for a walk instead of binge-reading more of this pandemic news?
...took a breath first instead of responding immediately to this question?
...put my phone in the drawer instead of checking my emails while I'm on this zoom call?
...listened to music and read instead of being on my laptop before bed?

If we pause...then can we make different choices with better results for our effectiveness, relationships, well-being and quality of life.

What's a choice you're getting better at?

Noticing your patterns

Notice your patterns.

For example, I've been reading a fair bit of news lately.
What am I looking for when I read the news? (Reassurance!)
When I read the news, what feelings come up? (Dread!)

Just noticing your patterns is a starting point to break the ones that don't work you, and instead form new ones that do.

Unearth "the Dream": Mentor like Michelangelo

Unearth "the Dream": Mentor like Michelangelo

I remembered this moment while reading Johnson and Ridley's book, The Elements of Mentoring. In Behaviour #4, "Unearth the Dream," they argue it's our role as mentors to recognize the sculpture - the Dream - is already within our mentees, waiting to be uncovered.