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One of my life’s themes is to cope with overwhelm after going full-speed, sometimes crossing my own boundaries, and needing to slow down again.
It’s the downside of having lotttts of energy ;).
It can make me feel frustrated when things don’t go as easy as I want.
What brought me joy can suddenly feel like a burden.
Especially because I tend to get bored easily and need a new thrill to feel inspired again. (Not with people, by the way... very loyal)
(For the HD fans here, yes I’m a man-gen, sacral).
The tendency of overwhelm
The tendency is then to focus on the heaviness. On what something ‘asks’ of me.
I remember having felt that very often when it comes to people.
“Everyone wants something from me!” I would complain.
There was truth in it; many people would message me or call me saying they’d love to meet up again and get some of that Michelle-energy.
As if I was their charging station.
It exhausted me.
But not because of them; because of me.
Firstly, because I didn’t preserve my own time boundaries enough. I’d have a gazillion social engagements on top of work and really wanted to adhere to the agreed timings, which I said yes to too often, because no wasn't even an option in my world (yeah yeah, I know).
Secondly, because I felt like they were taking, and I allowed this without asking myself: how can I receive back?
if you’re a giver, please pay attention now, because this really made a huge difference for me in my life: it was about my ability to receive.
Depletion happens when you’re not being nurtured enough.
And even though it’s tempting to believe that the source of depletion is the cause, it really isn’t.
In fact, the source of depletion might very well become the source of nurturing once you shift your perspective from ‘it asks something’ to ‘it brings me something’.
It could be work, sports, people, relationships.
Instead of seeing them as parts of your life that ask your presence, attention, time, focus…
…what do they bring?
How does work bring you inspiration and how can you keep it that way without it depleting you?
How does your relationship bring you safety, love and having to carry only half of the load, without you thinking it’s another plate to spin?
How does that gym session shift from being a nuisance to a way to feel fit and healthy?
How can you allow the people in your life to give you, nurture you, make you feel deserving of love, instead of you always serving them?
I really had to learn how to shift my perspective from ‘I’m always giving’ to ‘I can receive’.
The art of receptivity
Receptivity can be practiced in every little aspect of your life. Receiving the wind on your cheeks, receiving the sunshine on your skin, receiving the sound of the birds in your ear.
Receiving yourself in all of your emotional waves.
Yes, sweet one, you deserve to receive.
When you feel overwhelmed or empty, instead of focusing on what ‘everybody’ or ‘everything’ asks of you, maybe also ask:
What does it bring me?
How can I allow it to bring me more of what I want and need?
How can I ask for it?
- Your relationship with life may become a little sunnier.
- Your relationship with your partner may become more equal and supportive.
- Your relationship with work may become healthier.
And that is because you include yourself more. Instead of separating yourself through giving only, you include your humanness and receptivity.
Yin-yang, light-dark, highs-lows… giving-receiving. The polarity of one.
Wanna learn how to become more receptive?
Let’s dive into this together.
Much love,
Michelle
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