Energy, not time, is
the fundamental currency of high performance.
Without the right
quantity, quality, focus and force of energy, we are compromised in any
activity we undertake.
To be fully engaged,
we must be physically energized, emotionally connected, mentally focused and
spiritually aligned with a purpose beyond our immediate self-interest.
Sadly, the need for
recovery is often viewed as evidence of weakness rather than as an integral
aspect of sustained performance.
Creating positive
rituals is the most powerful means we have found to effectively manage energy
in the service of full engagement.
A positive ritual is
a behavior that becomes automatic over time -- fueled by some deeply held
value.
It is impossible to
chart a course of change until you are able to look honestly at who you are
today.
To live like a
sprinter is to break life down into a series of manageable intervals consistent
with our own physiological needs and with the periodic rhythms of nature.
Without time for
recovery, our lives become a blur of doing unbalanced by much opportunity for
being.
The key muscle that
fuels spiritual energy is character -- the courage and conviction to live by
our values, even when doing so requires personal sacrifice and hardship. Supportive spiritual muscles include passion,
commitment, integrity and honesty.
Spiritual energy is
sustained by balancing a commitment to others with adequate self-care.
Without realizing
it, we often create stories around a set of facts and then take our stories to
be the truth.
Rituals create a
means by which to translate our values and priorities into action in all
dimensions of our life.
