Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the number of meetings
on your schedule? Does every project seem like a priority? Is
the stress of corporate politics just something you've learned
to live with?
Many busy professionals are experiencing
the relentless pressure of work. Is this the future you were
dreaming of? And even people who like their work often tell
me, "I have a great career.
What I need is a life."
Any of these experiences could be a signal that it is time to
restore your own power. It's time to take back your life and
live on your own terms. One way to restore your power is to take
time to refocus your attention on how you want your career and
life to be. Each January, I go to Orlando for a 14-day retreat
to review the prior year and create goals for the new year. This
time I learned some life changing lessons that left me feeling
much more confident, clear on my intentions, and willing to use
my own power full blast!
So, take some time for yourself, away from your busy life; preferably
alone...no laptop computer, no cell phone, no fax. A strong request
that you take time to restore your own power. During your restoration
time, here are a few suggestions that may be useful.
- Restoring power is about "being" not "doing." If
you are a high achiever, you probably are results oriented,
fairly driven and like to get things done. The art of restoring
personal power means experiencing who you really are, not just
what you achieve. Focus on identifying where your true power
really comes from. Is it based on the title and status from
your job (which is transient and external)? Or is your power
based on your internal confidence and true beliefs? The thing
to do is to identify what is really important to you and why.
Specifically ask yourself: What are your personal standards?
Your boundaries? Your values?
- Restoring your power means uncovering false beliefs about
yourself and how life works. We all have "reasons" about
why we are not as successful as we'd like to be. When you
actually take time to examine the "reasons," they
are often just false beliefs. For example, we can think, "I'd
be promoted at work if it wasn't for that person or that
circumstance." False. You'll be promoted when you shift
into the identity required at that higher level. Another
example: "I can't exercise my total power. Someone may
not approve. You can't have it all in life." False.
When you play full speed, at 100%; when you use all your
power, you encourage everyone to do the same. Those who don't
get it, just don't get it. There can be a long list of false
beliefs we have for holding ourselves back from a great life.
- Restoring your power means adding "what's
missing." Sometimes
what's missing is your own definition of what success looks
like to you-- not by society's standards, not by peers' standards.
And when do you "declare" yourself successful? Your
definition of success should be something based on your personal
values. Success is what makes you happy, what gives you personal
satisfaction. And "what that is" varies depending
on "who you are." Many high achievers are so busy
climbing, they never allow themselves to arrive at feeling
good about themselves or what they have accomplished.
What may also be missing is a self-care routine for restoring power. Do
you do regular exercise? Take time out to reflect? Savor your achievement?
Meditate? How do you restore daily?
You may be missing a "community of friends." A
corporation can be a cold place. Do you have a circle
of 5 people you can call regularly who totally support
you?
Are you missing a "true ally?" When you have
a highly charged life, you need at least one person with
whom you can share the full truth about yourself in an
atmosphere of no judgment. Restoring your power means
filling in the missing pieces.
