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Are you making progress eliminating the things that drain your precious energy? What are you noticing is different in your life as a result of your efforts? Remember, it takes clear and repetitive action to change old patterns of behavior and replace them with new more empowering ones. You’ll make even more strides this week by incorporating the next two energy drain solutions into your week.

Energy Drain #2: Making Assumptions and Taking Things Personally
 
Humans are exceptionally good at creating meaning. With every occurrence in our lives or every statement someone makes, we’re constantly asking: “what does that mean?” Sometimes meaning helps us to know where we stand, but much of the time the meaning we create is, frankly, an incorrect assumption. How many energy units go down the drain each time you second-guess the meaning of someone’s words, actions or inactions?
 
Think of the last time you spent an hour, a month, a year (or longer) having made the wrong assumption about an interaction with someone. How much energy did it cost you? The next time you find yourself making things up about someone’s words or actions, ask them for clarity so you can deal with the truth, and move on.
 
Energy Drain #3: Tolerating Friction In Your Environment and Relationships
 
The squeaky door. The leaky faucet. The tired paint color on your office walls. By themselves, the energy drain is minor. Add them all up, however, and you have a gaping hole in your energy system. It’s time to clean it all up. Make a list of all the things in your home, office or car that you continually notice needing attention. Set aside some time and tick them off your list once and for all.
 
Likewise, when you tolerate a dysfunctional relationship or have unfinished business with anyone, you’re losing energy. Confront the relationship issues you have. Clean up unfinished business. If necessary, get support from someone who can help you negotiate such confrontations skillfully and responsibly. Think of the energy it takes to avoid someone versus the energy you’d gain in the long run having the issue cleared up.

Until next week…