ENERGY CRISIS!
What energizes you? What de-energizes you? It was sometime in 2012 that I found myself responding to anyone who asked me how I was with the answer, knackered! This was not a response I was proud of and it was a serious red flag for how I was living. However, being married with 3 young children (and wanting to keep it that way), travelling a lot with exciting global work, writing books etc. meant that I didn’t know how to change my life for the better. So rather than looking externally for answers I reflected upon where do I get my energy from. There were several main factors including physical exercise, relationships, learning and most importantly purpose. I decided to address each element.
I have always enjoyed exercise. I noticed that the days I worked out I had more energy, but I didn’t do it every day. I would come up with excuses like I’m too tired, it’s too dark, cold, I haven’t got the time. I made a decision – to exercise every day. It became a non-negotiable. I have been doing it ever since and it’s been a game changer. I don’t push it, but if I’m home it’s a jog with our dog, or if I’m travelling it’s the gym. A mix of stretching and cardio, but it does the job and whenever I can I play tennis, which is my real passion.
I looked at my relationships and identified those people who energised me, and those who didn’t. I made a decision – to move away from those relationships that drained me. I’m not a quitter. I will work at anything until there is a solution. But I realised in some relationships it’s the right thing to move on. Alongside this I decided to seek out those people who do energise me and made sure that I’m deliberately spending more time with them.
Unfortunately, my formal education switched me off from a love of learning. It was only when I entered the world of personal development that my appetite for continuous learning spiked. It is now insatiable. A day without learning is a wasted day. This is true whether you apply it as a partner, parent, leader, manger, professional, or whatever role you are playing.
I am writing this on 17 July 2017. The day after Roger Federer completed another remarkable victory at Wimbledon. The headlines rightly acknowledge his mastery. “Graceful Roger Federer transcends statistics to rebuild mystical aura.” The Guardian. “Roger Federer is part of British sporting history, a permanent exhibition we never wish to see close.” The Telegraph. When you visit his website, what stands out is Federer’s statement, “When you do something best in life, you don’t really want to give that up & for me it’s tennis.”
For me Federer’s style of play, exemplary conduct on the tour, father of 4 children and now his successful battle against age to reclaim his throne is underpinned by his extraordinary energy. It is a powerful example of when you are on purpose, playing to your strengths alongside countless hours of practice your energy flows.
To explore your energy, you need to consider 4 key capacities:
1. Physical energy. What are your habits that nourish your physical energy? How well do you eat? How restful is your sleep? How effective are your fitness rituals? Sustaining your physical energy requires you to make specific commitments that bring out the best in you.
2. Emotional energy. What are you passionate about? What do you love? What is your joy? Research from Psychoneuroimmunology shows that emotions have an impact on our health and energy. In 1985, research by neuropharmacologist Candace Pert, of the National Institutes of Health at Georgetown University, revealed that neuropeptide-specific receptors are present on the cell walls of both the brain and the immune system. The discovery that neuropeptides and neurotransmitters act directly upon the immune system shows their close association with emotions. Therefore positive emotions such as passion, love and joy can boost the immune system and support your energy.
3. Intellectual energy. How well do you focus? How do you actively learn? How often do you practice mindfulness? There is an exciting and expanding world in Neuroscience which explores how the brain works. Evidence shows that the brain has plasticity, which means that it can continue to increase intelligence through making new neural pathways. Therefore, you can improve the way you focus, learn and pay attention which will improve your intellectual firepower.
4. Spiritual energy. What brings you meaning? What is your vision? How authentic are you being? As you can see the premise of Lead with Purpose sits within spiritual energy. Knowing your purpose, values and what is most important to you will nourish your spiritual energy and help you feel connected in a disruptive age.
Measure your energy on a 1-10 scale against the four capacities. 1 stands for very low, 10 is very high. As you conduct your own self-assessment you will see what is a strength for you and what you need to focus on in order to support your energy.
What energizes you? What de-energizes you? It was sometime in 2012 that I found myself responding to anyone who asked me how I was with the answer, knackered! This was not a response I was proud of and it was a serious red flag for how I was living. However, being married with 3 young children (and wanting to keep it that way), travelling a lot with exciting global work, writing books etc. meant that I didn’t know how to change my life for the better. So rather than looking externally for answers I reflected upon where do I get my energy from. There were several main factors including physical exercise, relationships, learning and most importantly purpose. I decided to address each element.
I have always enjoyed exercise. I noticed that the days I worked out I had more energy, but I didn’t do it every day. I would come up with excuses like I’m too tired, it’s too dark, cold, I haven’t got the time. I made a decision – to exercise every day. It became a non-negotiable. I have been doing it ever since and it’s been a game changer. I don’t push it, but if I’m home it’s a jog with our dog, or if I’m travelling it’s the gym. A mix of stretching and cardio, but it does the job and whenever I can I play tennis, which is my real passion.
I looked at my relationships and identified those people who energised me, and those who didn’t. I made a decision – to move away from those relationships that drained me. I’m not a quitter. I will work at anything until there is a solution. But I realised in some relationships it’s the right thing to move on. Alongside this I decided to seek out those people who do energise me and made sure that I’m deliberately spending more time with them.
Unfortunately, my formal education switched me off from a love of learning. It was only when I entered the world of personal development that my appetite for continuous learning spiked. It is now insatiable. A day without learning is a wasted day. This is true whether you apply it as a partner, parent, leader, manger, professional, or whatever role you are playing.
I am writing this on 17 July 2017. The day after Roger Federer completed another remarkable victory at Wimbledon. The headlines rightly acknowledge his mastery. “Graceful Roger Federer transcends statistics to rebuild mystical aura.” The Guardian. “Roger Federer is part of British sporting history, a permanent exhibition we never wish to see close.” The Telegraph. When you visit his website, what stands out is Federer’s statement, “When you do something best in life, you don’t really want to give that up & for me it’s tennis.”
For me Federer’s style of play, exemplary conduct on the tour, father of 4 children and now his successful battle against age to reclaim his throne is underpinned by his extraordinary energy. It is a powerful example of when you are on purpose, playing to your strengths alongside countless hours of practice your energy flows.
To explore your energy, you need to consider 4 key capacities:
1. Physical energy. What are your habits that nourish your physical energy? How well do you eat? How restful is your sleep? How effective are your fitness rituals? Sustaining your physical energy requires you to make specific commitments that bring out the best in you.
2. Emotional energy. What are you passionate about? What do you love? What is your joy? Research from Psychoneuroimmunology shows that emotions have an impact on our health and energy. In 1985, research by neuropharmacologist Candace Pert, of the National Institutes of Health at Georgetown University, revealed that neuropeptide-specific receptors are present on the cell walls of both the brain and the immune system. The discovery that neuropeptides and neurotransmitters act directly upon the immune system shows their close association with emotions. Therefore positive emotions such as passion, love and joy can boost the immune system and support your energy.
3. Intellectual energy. How well do you focus? How do you actively learn? How often do you practice mindfulness? There is an exciting and expanding world in Neuroscience which explores how the brain works. Evidence shows that the brain has plasticity, which means that it can continue to increase intelligence through making new neural pathways. Therefore, you can improve the way you focus, learn and pay attention which will improve your intellectual firepower.
4. Spiritual energy. What brings you meaning? What is your vision? How authentic are you being? As you can see the premise of Lead with Purpose sits within spiritual energy. Knowing your purpose, values and what is most important to you will nourish your spiritual energy and help you feel connected in a disruptive age.
Measure your energy on a 1-10 scale against the four capacities. 1 stands for very low, 10 is very high. As you conduct your own self-assessment you will see what is a strength for you and what you need to focus on in order to support your energy.