Being fit has many layers, especially for us here at FIT TO PROFIT. It is physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. This week we get to focus on our emotions as they are an integral part of our wellbeing. We all know this in theory, but our reality is slightly skewed. Tell me if this sounds familiar: You wake up, grab your coffee, shout your kiddos out the door while you’re looking for their shoes, scramble back home for client meetings, worked non-stop and then before you know it, it’s 12AM and you haven’t gone to bed yet because you’re still working.
Girl, I feel you! I’ve been there myself. My days are full of meetings, book revisions, coaching calls, directing my team to meet deadlines for our sales funnels, summits, webinars, etc. And while I’m REALLY good at running my business, lately I’ve discovered that I need to work on my relationships even more. Not just with my family, but with MYSELF. At the end of the day, I’m not working my butt off in my business to leave a legacy behind when we’re all dead. Yes, I want to make sure my family is taken care of. However, my legacy is also how my friends and family remember me — how many laughs we’ve shared and how much love I’ve given to them. I have a deep hidden fear that I will die with regrets and I am doing everything I possibly can now so that will not be the last thought when I take my last breath. I don’t mean to be morbid but truly, I don’t want to die with any regrets.
When push comes to shove and things need to get done, emotions get buried. We suppress what we’re feeling so we can get the job done, and then forget to give ourselves a second to breathe. We shouldn’t avoid emotions in order to be productive. In fact, we become our best selves whenever we tune into how we’re feeling and understand how those emotions are affecting us. And since those around us also affect how we feel, it’s important to understand how we interact with those closest to ourselves to feel fulfilled.
Loving on Yourself
You can’t have a great relationship with others if you don’t have a great relationship with yourself. It serves as a foundation and sets the tone for every other important relationship in your life. So what does a great relationship with yourself look like?
Well, it starts with things like positive self-talk. How would you talk to a friend? You certainly wouldn’t call her stupid or annoying. You wouldn’t say she’s fat, or that she needs a nose job. You’d compliment her instead. You’d tell her she’s amazing and that you’re so lucky to have her in your life. You’d appreciate the time you have together, and you’d make it feel special. So why not make yourself feel just as special? It’s not going to be easy at the beginning. But little by little, you’ll start to see yourself flourish.
It may start with you taking your time to get ready in the morning, and looking at yourself in the mirror and saying ‘I love you’ to yourself. I know, trust me, it’s a practice. It took me a while to be able to do that, and really mean it.
Also, I like to have FUN! It’s not supposed to all be about work. Let yourself indulge in things you enjoy, guilt-free. For me, that might be going dancing or making sure I have my favorite tea ready to go in the morning. You are the main character in your life. It’s time to romanticize it.
Loving on Others
Relationships are connections that feed energy both ways. So it’s important to nurture them. However, it’s important to realize that not all relationships will feed or empower you. If there’s someone who drains you and makes you feel worse instead of better, then it’s a good idea to part ways. Spend more time with people who make you feel good.
On a personal level, I’ve noticed that most of the time when I feel the most frustrated or burnt out, it’s out of guilt. I’m not spending enough time with my husband working on our marriage. I’m not giving my kids the attention they need. And while I try to draw boundaries between business and my personal time, I’m by no means a perfect human being. But what I’ve found is that if I’m really intentional about creating 1-1 time for my husband and kids, I’m fulfilled emotionally. And when I’m fulfilled emotionally, I have the clarity, motivation, and drive to create special things in my business and my life. My mission becomes that much greater.
Reflection Time
How are your relationships right now? Be real with yourself: on a scale of 1-10, where are they right now? If there’s anything you can change or improve, I encourage you to take a step back this week. Take the time to evaluate that you’re giving yourself enough love first, because we can’t give what we don’t have. You only have one chance to live, and because you can’t take anything with you, you can certainly leave something behind. So what do you want to leave behind? I’d love to hear what you think! Join the discussion in Authentic Entrepreneurs.