Written by Michelle Robinson
Welcome to September’s Life-Chat. I hope that wherever you are, your inner climate is sunny and warm.
This month’s column discusses how mindfulness can prevent us from feeling emotionally drained and exhausted. Many of us, at some stage of our lives, will have had our energy levels impacted because we have been drawn into dramas or issues that were not our responsibility. When we are compassionate, empathic, or sensitive by nature, this happens easily.
To sum up the theme of my message: “Where our attention goes, our energy flows”.
The following scenario shows how we can be impacted by where we focus our attention.
While travelling on the highway we approach a car accident. People have gathered and an ambulance is onsite.. Even though the accident is not our own experience, we feel involved in the lives of those who were injured. Our attention is drawn to and lingers at the scene. When we refocus on our own journey, we feel emotionally scattered, anxious, and upset. Some of the trauma that belongs the accident remains with us. Does this sound familiar to you?
Hopefully, witnessing an accident is a rare experience. However, in daily life, our energy is frequently affected by what occurs around us, unless we are clear about what is and what is not our responsibility.
As I said a little earlier, where our attention goes, our energy flows. This means it is easy to feel exhausted when we focus on someone else’s challenges, dramas, or emotions. If we are an intuitive or sensitive person, we will likely absorb the emotional upset, making us feel tired, unsettled and out of balance. This is not helpful, as the issue is not ours to own. In effect, we give our energy away and take on unhelpful energy that does not belong to us.
To avoid feeling drained by the events and emotions around us, we need to be mindful of where we place our attention and energy.
A helpful technique I have found is to take the role of the observer. In situations that are not my responsibility, I try to observe without allowing myself to feel involved or responsible for the outcome. I maintain empathy, but don’t become a rescuer unless my help is sought or required. For decades, I was terrible at this, and at the same time, was chronically fatigued and anxious.
Learning how my attention and energy interact with my wellbeing was the cornerstone in my recovery. Understanding the importance of establishing appropriate boundaries in relationships was also key to restoring my health. Sometimes, each of us needs to look after our own needs first, so that we are in the best position to assist others where necessary. A dry desert cannot provide relief to a weary traveller, but an oasis, with its own resources, sustains many.
If you find yourself tired, anxious, emotionally scattered, or drained, it may be worth asking yourself where your attention and energy take you. It’s never too late to become an empathic observer, rather than getting drawn into energy and emotions you don’t need.
I hope you have found this topic interesting, and perhaps, even helpful.
Finally, if you would like to stay connected with me to receive positive tips for life each morning, feel welcome to join my free Facebook group “Your Intuitive Gifts At Work.” Here is a direct link where you can join my group https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourintuitivegiftsatwork