Five steps to balance pursuing passion and pursuing peace.
Transparency is important in this journey. We must learn to be transparent with ourselves and with one another. Deluding ourselves and pretending with others helps no one. Today is my day to be transparent with you. So here goes.
This week is kicking my butt.
There, I said it.
This is a busy week. I’ve had commitments out of the house every evening. The days have been full of good work and important tasks, but also of things that require focus, attention, and which can exhaust you mentally. Additionally, we are in the middle of our Purposeful Planning Party on the Pursuing Passionate Peace Facebook group. I’ve been providing some members of that group help outside of the party, and I’ve had coaching client appointments as well.
In the wee hours of yesterday morning, before the alarm went off, I awoke feeling anxious and stressed. My Purposeful Planning Party schedule was taunting me like a schoolyard bully. I had planned to move into Chapter 3 of Purpose Planning last Saturday, and I still had not done so.
And that’s when it hit me! TIME TO PRACTICE WHAT I AM TEACHING.
I am passionate about my work–at my day job, with my coaching clients, with those in my groups, and with all of you who interact with me here through the blog. I am passionate about helping all of you set goals you will keep and keep the goals that you set (Purposeful Planning Party). I am passionate about helping you discover who you are, why you are here, and how you can live that out. Pursuing Passionate Peace is about doing those things you are passionate about.
However, Pursuing Passionate Peace is also about not losing your peace. There’s a balance between the pursuit of passion and the pursuit of peace. Pursuing peace means we are actively going after it and intentionally guarding keeping it. This does not describe me this week. I am out of balance.
Developing Wisdom in This Area
Part of developing wisdom is cultivating recognition. We learn to listen to both our bodies and our souls. Growth in the pursuit of passionate peace means realizing quickly when we are out of balance, and taking immediate steps to correct the situation.
Steps to Regaining Equilibrium
So here are the five steps I implemented to correct the situation, and that you can use when you find yourself here.
1. Move forward at a reasonable pace. Just because you’ve made a schedule doesn’t mean you must keep it. Schedules and plans serve us; we do not serve them! They are tools, not task masters. It might be helpful to think of your schedule as a draft. When circumstances require, adjust it.
2. Remember rest is important. I am going to get enough sleep. Not getting enough sleep will inhibit ability to focus and function. Lowered ability to function further reduces productivity. Sacrificing sleep for accomplishing tasks is not effective. With sleep, I can approach things at my best, with focus and determination.
3. Take time to plan. Each morning, I take five minutes to prioritize my day. The three most important tasks are pushed to the top of the list, but I make sure all the tasks are recorded so they are not forgotten. By doing this, I don’t have to remember all the things which must be done (either now or eventually), but I can commit energy where it is most needed and can be most effective.
4. Don’t forget to breathe. When I feel anxious, I pause, close my eyes, and breath. Three to five slow deep breaths can work wonders in lowering stress and anxiety in the moment. I usually pair the breathing with a prayer. This week mine I am using: [on the inhale] Come, Holy Spirit, [on the exhale] Lead me in Truth.
5. Debrief when it is over. When the busy-ness is over, I will spend a few moments reflecting on this period of time. Did I over commit? How did I let everything get stacked up like that? What could I have done differently? This is called debriefing, and it is how we learn, and grow, and not make the same mistakes over and over.
Remember:
Your Best is Enough!
No one can expect more from you than your best. If they do, it is THEIR issue and not yours. Stop trying to be THEIR version of you. You will be happier being yours anyway.
People Matter Most!
Too often, we let things become more important than people. Schedules, deadlines, expectations, rules . . . They do not matter more than you, and if you are surrounded by people who think they do, surround yourself with different people! Don’t ever be afraid to change schedules, deadlines, expectations and rules when it is in the best interest of people . . . especially when that person is YOU!
If you are surrounded by people who think schedules, deadlines, expectations and rules matter more than people, surround yourself with different people. Share on X
Go pursue passionate peace today!
#passionatepeace #purposefulplanningparty
