Life
How to Expand Your Capacity to Get More Out of Life
You’ve heard it before. We all have the same number of days in a year and hours in a day. But some people seem to get more done within those confines of time. Others read books about productivity and try to get more out of themselves and their teams. Strive to become more efficient. Or add even more to the to-do list. But if we’re already maxed out, how do we reach higher levels of success?
We seem to be in a constant cycle of bouncing off the walls of what confines us. The calendar, the clock, the to-do list, deadlines, demands, expectations, schedules. And then try to bust through those walls by working harder or more efficiently. We think we’re working leaner and smarter but really, we’re often just trying to fit more in. What if there was another way?
Growing up, every Summer my family would vacation on a lake with sandy beaches lining the edge. One of my favorite things to do, with a plastic shovel in hand, was to dig a hole in the sand as deep as my little hands and plastic shovel could make, a few feet from the water’s edge. Then, I’d carve out a trough from the water’s edge all the way to my newly formed reservoir. Then wait and observe as the water traveled up the sandy trough to the hole I had dug. That simple childhood game was hours of fascination and more importantly, teaches us an important lesson about capacity.
You see, time is limited. The calendar is set. Our to-do lists max out. But capacity is unlimited. The way to think unlimited is to think in terms of capacity. What that childhood activity teaches us is that when we make space, in this case a hole and trough, it gets filled. Sure, time is limited and there’s a set number of days and hours available to us all. But the capacity we create within those limitations and how it gets filled is unlimited.
Strive to be bored
Like the hole in the sand, you have to make space for something else to come in. Working harder, more efficient and increasing productivity isn’t always the answer. Perhaps unplugging the drain is. Instead of trying to accomplish more, try delegating, automating and eliminating. Instead of trying to cram more in, get rid of things in order to make space. Or as I like to say, strive to be bored. What if you had time to twiddle your thumbs? Imagine what you’d have time for if you delegated, systematized or got rid of things that were taking up your time.
That includes tasks and yes, maybe some customers. That’s why it’s always best to work only with your ideal customers. Why? Because we all know the customers we bend over backwards for, jump through hoops for, who take up the most of our time, are always the least profitable. On the other hand, our ideal clients are a breeze to work with, enable us to do our best work, are the most profitable and leave us time to move on to other customers.
As high achievers, we often get caught up in the busyness trap. Not comfortable with an idle moment, we fill it up with less than optimal use of our time. We think we have to stay in a state of overwhelm to feel pushed to our limits.
However, if you don’t have time, how can you expect more of what you want to come in? What message is “no more time” saying to the prospect of more work? More success? If you keep saying to yourself, “I don’t have enough time”, what else are you saying you don’t have enough of? Money? Customers? Downtime? This is, at its root, a scarcity mindset. Because you haven’t created any space for more. Time is limited. Your capacity is not.
Preserve your energy
Your energy is a reservoir. That’s why self-care is so important to your success. People burn out for a reason. They push themselves beyond their capacity. Like trying to fix the time constraint issue by being more productive may not be the answer, preventing burnout by reducing stress may not be the answer either. Reducing stress is certainly part of the equation. But these are outside-in approaches; trying to control external circumstances first. A better approach is inside-out.
Instead of trying to reduce the outside circumstances that cause burn out, how about increasing your capacity for what you can handle? That’s where self-care comes in. Instead of a reservoir in the sand waiting to be filled, think of your energy capacity in the reverse. You start with a full reservoir of energy and well-being that you need to keep filled in order to have something to give out.
Being in business is draining. Life is draining. Especially these days. Don’t let your tank get too low. Your energy and well-being is a capacity to be refilled and expanded. What does that for you? Time off? A hobby? A bike ride? Walk on the beach? If you think about your energy as a capacity and you don’t let it run too low, it may not take much to feel refilled. Maybe a short break. Perhaps lunch with a friend. An hour massage would be nice.
Develop personally
“Your level of success rarely exceeds your level of personal development”. That quote by Jim Rohn may be some of the truest words ever spoken. Certainly when it comes to success. It’s up to you to develop yourself personally, to grow and stretch in order to create the capacity for more success to come.
Entrepreneurship and self-employment are like personal development on steroids. The rate by which we have to rise to the occasion, learn the next new thing, have our buttons pushed and recover, and find the best in ourselves all the time is at warp speed. How could our personal development not be a capacity within ourselves?
A capacity that needs constant nutrition to expand and to grow. Which is why we must always be developing not just our skill set, but ourselves. Our mindsets, our attitudes, our ability to persevere, our creativity, our innovation. The ways in which we need to grow are unlimited which is why we must think in terms of unlimited capacity.
What I know for sure is that success is not limited. What’s available to you is not limited. But you have to increase your capacity to handle more through constant personal development in order for there to be room for more success. Thinking in terms of what limits you will keep you where you are. Thinking in terms of capacity, and the never ending ability to increase capacity for more to come, will help you think unlimited.
The secret to happiness lies in the way you live your life. People think of happiness as some destination they’ll reach when they’ve accomplished the hundred things on their life to-do list. Happiness is often associated with money, material possessions, or even great relationships. (more…)
We all strive to be better every day. Most of us want a new day to bring something new, and we plan for it as well. Of course, the execution is debatable as procrastination is real and it becomes an overwhelming feeling at times. Also, not to forget the customary practice of making resolutions on new year’s eve! All of us are fascinated by the thought of preparing long lists of resolves to mark the beginning of a new year. Not sure how many people are able to translate these resolutions into functional realities. (more…)
One of the most important things for an entrepreneur’s mental health is expressing their feelings, thoughts, and emotions. This is where content creation and writing becomes pivotal. Whether you read something that resonates with you or you write a compelling blog post, the act of expressing yourself through content can help to put a smile on your face and make you feel better about things.
Most entrepreneurs don’t spend as much time taking care of their mental health as they should. Over the course of your career, you will experience a lot of ups and downs; these emotions have the potential to take a toll on your mind and body if you don’t learn to manage them properly.
Here are four reasons why expression through content is pivotal for healing, slowing yourself down, and giving yourself grace when the going gets tough.
1. Content can be a form of self-expression
When you are an entrepreneur, you frequently face feelings of insecurity, doubt, fear, apathy, and exhaustion, just to name a few. Some days it feels like no one is on your business’s side and everyone else has it all figured out. On those days some of us try to look at our website’s analytics to cheer up.
But an even more freeing task is creating content. You create content to improve your business and reach more people’s lives. But, there is something special that happens when you write with the intention of expressing your thoughts and feelings — you open a door to yourself.
Content is inherently personal, which means content creators open themselves up when they share their thoughts on a platform. Everything from the title of the post, the keywords they choose to include, and even the content itself helps you to understand who the author of that post truly is. And as an entrepreneur, this can be an important experience because it allows others to empathize with you.
2. Self-reflection will lift you up
As you think through what to write about and how to express yourself, the process of self reflection is a valuable step you need to go through. You’re able to reflect on the blessings you have, assess what you learned from the negative experiences, and create a plan on how to maintain the positive experiences you’ve had.
There are a few ways that self reflection can help you with mental health healing. The act of reflecting on your experiences helps to create clarity in feelings, thoughts and emotions which will eventually lead into acceptance for what has happened or is happening currently without feeling overwhelmed by it all. This process also leads people towards finding new things they enjoy doing. Self reflection is therapeutic and can be implemented anytime you feel the need to overcome overwhelm.
“Writing in a journal each day allows you to direct your focus to what you accomplished, what you’re grateful for and what you’re committed to doing better tomorrow. Thus, you more deeply enjoy your journey each day.” – Hal Elrod
3. A sense of belonging and camaraderie
It is important to have a support network of people who will listen and understand what you are going through. When you post a blog or upload a video on YouTube, there are others who feel the same way and experience a sense of connection with you.
When you put time, attention and thoughtfulness into your writing, it is amazing when someone reads what you’ve written and comments on it thanking you or expressing how they resonate with what you’re going through. It’s hard to put into words how powerful it feels when someone who has gone through the same experience and reads your words then reaches out. There is power in expression but miracles happen when people bond over a similar experience.
4. Library of content to share with more people
It can be very difficult to know what content to share with people as the symptoms of mental health disorders (anxiety, depression, etc.) vary from person to person. But as you accumulate more and more content, this will increase the number of articles or videos available for readers to choose from depending on their specific purpose. It also builds your personal library of resources you’re able to share to different people you encounter or engage directly with.
As chaotic and distracting social media can be, it can also be a beacon of hope with the right content. Many people share viral posts, or content that interest them. Since your content is valuable and personal, the more you share it, the more likely it is to be shared with the right audience.
You never know who is watching (reading)
Your content is speaking to someone and even though they may not be actively engaged, their experiences with your work are impacting them. Think about the last time you watched TV: did everyone in the room have something entertaining to say?
You never know who’s watching because there’s always somebody reading your posts or viewing your videos-even if they just skim through it briefly. This is why creating content worth consuming is critical, not only to get you out of your funk, but also to serve your audience. Be authentic and stay true to yourself; make every post count as an opportunity for connection with your best self and for potential readers to bond with you.
Warren Buffett once said, the best investment you can ever make is in yourself. Time and money spent on bettering yourself are never considered a waste. Whether it’s through learning how to make money online, exploring new ways to increase your financial security, or watching TED talks to expand your knowledge. Do not be stingy when it comes to self-improvement because it will definitely pay off in the end.
Need some ideas to get started on your journey to becoming a better you? Here are 5 ways to invest in yourself and transform your life.
1. Change Your Self-Concept
Having a negative self-concept can have a tremendous impact on your life. Limiting beliefs and self-doubt are some of the main reasons why many never achieve or attempt to pursue their dreams. Take a moment and think about all the negative thoughts you have repeated to yourself throughout your life. How have these thoughts impacted the way you live life? From now on, create a new self-image by turning these negative thoughts into positive ones and appreciate your good qualities.
2. Sign Up For An Online Course
If you’ve been wanting to brush up on your Photoshop skills or learn how to code professionally, this is the perfect time to get started. As long as you have a stable internet connection, you can access an endless amount of valuable information online. For example, sites like Coursera and Youtube are both awesome resources for online learning. With a few search strings and clicks, you can find all the information you need.
3. Learn From a Mentor
No matter which stage of your life you are currently in, working with a mentor can help you stay motivated and focused on your goals. Not only can they guide you in the right direction, but also transform your vision, provide you with new insights, and connect you with amazing resources. If you’re feeling unmotivated or unsure about what you want to do in life, consider finding a mentor to help you navigate this process.
4. Start A Side Hustle
The salary from a 9-5 job would rarely allow you to reach your maximum income potential. Why not achieve financial success while pursuing your passion by starting a side hustle? Whether it’s through starting an ecommerce business, freelance writing on the side, or starting a Youtube channel. There are infinite numbers of ways to make money, and there is bound to be one out there that fits your passion and skills.
5. Nourish Your Body
As many may say, “health is the new wealth”. Without a healthy and functioning body, living a fulfilling and comfortable life becomes difficult. To take care of your body and prioritize your wellbeing, start with small habits such as eating healthier foods and exercising regularly. Bike or walk to work instead of taking the car, and opt for a healthy protein bowl instead of greasy burgers at Burger King. With time, these small habits can make an incredible difference.
Check out the infographic below, to see more ways you can invest in yourself:
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