Jun
24
Written by:
Erika
6/24/2009 5:18 PM
"193 miles to empty" displayed on my car console when I started it this morning. Seeing the number of miles until my gas tank is empty makes much more sense to me than trying to determine how much fuel I have as the line moves from F (full) to E (empty) on the traditional gauge. What if we had a display that told us the status of our personal energy reserve?
Our personal fuel gauge would tell us how many "miles" (tasks, appointments, problems, and requests) we had left before we were empty. I thought about how I let my energy run to empty because I don't take the time to determine where I stand. Sometimes I get caught up in things (ok, most of the time
) and I don't know if I am closer to F or E. Before I know it, there is no fuel left in my personal tank and I just stop, like my car if I don't pay attention to the fuel line.
"193 miles to empty" made me feel safe because I knew I had enough fuel to get through the day and ...it made me want to always see a high number displayed each time I start the car. When it reads 75 or 50 miles to empty, I will be much more likely to fill up because I like the feeling I get when I know I'm "full".
I thought about how I can know how many miles I have left and how I can continuously fill up so I always see a high number. on my personal energy gauge.
When I am too close to empty I:
- Forget things
- Respond to people defensively
- Blame others
- Gossip, criticize and complain
- Snack or overeat
- Hunch my shoulders so they could be my earrings
Things that fill me up are:
- A good night's sleep
- Allowing travel and preparation time between appointments
- Choosing my start and end time each day and sticking to it
- At least a 1/2 of fun reading time each day
- Connecting with at least one friend a day
- Keeping my personal vision at the forefront of my daily decisions ...especially the small ones
How do you determine the level of your personal fuel tank and how do you stay closer to full?
Copyright ©2009 Erika Oliver
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