Nutritionists will tell you that it's not only about about how much you eat, but how balanced it is. So, in literal terms, you would want your full plate to consist of vitamins and minerals, proteins and carbohydrates. We could go further and suggest optimal splits among the groups. In similar fashion, in life, it's not about how much you have to do, or how much you do, but what. 

 

How is what you do contributing to your living your life purpose? We know of monks who dedicate their lives to prayer, looking themselves away from other human beings to spend their time in prayer. Priests and other religious deny themselves certain aspects of secular life in order to focus on their vocation. Other people manage corporate careers together with family life. What's filling up your plate?

 

Many people come to coaching because they are caught up in a rat race, sprinting from one project to another and not getting the fulfilment they desire.

 

Unburdening yourself of tasks that do not contribute to your overall well-being will make you lighter for the journey that matters.

 

It's not about being less busy. It's about being busy with things that matter.

 

How do you know what matters?

• It leaves you energised
• It grows you
• It has meaning for you
• It has a place in your  goals for the present and the future
• It helps you live your purpose

Apply this test to the things you have scheduled this week. How many pass the assessment?

 

One way to unburden yourself is to apply such a filter regularly to whatever you use your resources  - time, money, energy - on.

 

If you find that you consistently have stuff on your plate that does not energise you, that doesn't grow you, that you do not connect with, that is not leading you to the achievement of your goals and that does not help you live your purpose,  it is a good idea to go back to the reflection on porous  boundaries. This is because you may find that the work to unburden yourself begins with reinforcing your boundaries so that you do not have unwanted stuff invading your space.

 

To read our reflections on personal boundaries

click here.