Jennifer Louden is known as “The Comfort Queen” and featured on many globally recognised TV shows, including Oprah, with over 800,000 copies of her first book sold internationally. She is the world's leading authority on carving out the time and desire to look after your own well being and hence achieve more with less stress despite having a very busy life.
The most common rut many of us find ourselves stuck in: We stay busy 24/7 because being busy equals not being selfish -- we're doing our jobs, taking care of our kids, helping in the community. We're being good -- or so we tell ourselves.In truth, being busy 24/7 is incredibly selfish and lazy.
Why? Because it depletes us, increases the noise in our heads, exhausts our bodies, and very effectively blocks our ability to allow something greater to express itself through us.
Simply put, it keeps us from living our purpose and serving. It takes effort to slow down and tune in to ourselves. It takes courage to face the void of the unknown, hang out there and listen to what's next. When we avoid doing that by turning on the radio the moment we get in the car or calling someone on the cell phone the second we find ourselves alone, that's lazy.
Ironic, isn't it? We think we'll shun selfish and laziness by being industrious and instead we become exactly what we wish to avoid. This can especially happen when you are doing what you love, or what is tied to your sense of purpose. It's so easy to fall into the habit of working all the time -- I'm doing what I love, what else would I want to do? Yet the result is the same: Depletion followed by an inability to get excited about your work. And that lack of excitement can completely freak you out because it's your purpose in life and it's all you've got because it's all you've been doing.
Another rut that leads downhill to burnout is wanting to do too many things at the same time and not choosing. I recently discovered I've fallen into that hole. Do I want to do more speaking? Or record more audios and design comfort products? Or work in corporations to influence depletive cultures from the top down? Or rewrite my novel? Or...
It's time to stop everything for a little while, listen to my heart, and rest to discern what projects to go forward with. Maybe it’s that time for you too?