Do you ever find that you beat yourself up, only to realize later that it wasn’t that bad? With a bit of understanding, you can skip the beating up part and get back to being productive.
This week I was explaining to my kids that Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, and it comes right before Lent. It’s something I’ve thought before, “Why a big party right before the kibosh on all the fun?” This year I get it. A few weeks ago I went skiing in Maine — long drives bookended four days of skiing and overindulging with my friend Amy, all while we managed a house full of kids. Back home I was exhausted, and discouraged. “How will I ever have the energy I need when I can’t even feel replenished by a super fun vacation?”
I’d been hit by the Mardi Gras bug: The urge to overdo it before winter’s grip has released us. Realizing my exhaustion was inevitable provided the perspective I needed.
Here’s the shift. Trust yourself. When our bodies, minds or hearts tell us one thing, why do we punish ourselves with flawed thinking and “shoulds? Listen to what’s actually happening instead of the distortion. Chances are you are a productive and overall positive person. If something doesn’t feel right, listen a little for what makes more sense. A disagreement at work, a lack of energy when you have a lot to do, an intuition that your team has made the wrong decision. These are all moments where I regularly see otherwise extremely effective executives abandon themselves.
Will you take a moment to think of something you’ve done well this last month? Then, think of one thing you are excited about, that you will get to once winter’s grip is behind us. Write them down, and write down why they are important to you. Then relax. Spring is on its way. Trust yourself and stay the course.
All my best,
Claire
“Claire offers a uniquely tailored, laser focused approach that helps you break through the clutter and pave
your own path with clarity and confidence. She shows you how to leverage your strengths and remove your own
obstacles so you can get to the next level and transition. All with incredible intelligence, determination,
empathy and humor. I highly recommend her to any individual or organization looking to work with the best and
make meaningful change.”
~ Christine Song, VP Marketing – Malin & Goetz
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