I’ve been sick with back-to-back colds. Today marks four weeks from date of my first symptoms … and I’m finally healthy again.
4 weeks…
4 WEEKS!!!
For four weeks I’ve been operating with limited energy. There were upswings and downswings (that’s how these colds worked … There would be moments during which I felt almost normal, end then the cold would rear its ugly head again.) For the most part, I’ve been out on PTO the entire time. My calendar is almost entirely blocked off with “sick days.”
I took a serious break. Do you know what happened?…
The world didn’t end.
During the “upswings” of the past four weeks I did only the essential tasks – the tasks that I absolutely love to do. The tasks that energize me.
During the downswings, I did nothing other than lay on the couch, sleep, and drink liquids. (I’m so tired of liquids … and rest. I feel like I’ve rested enough to last my entire life.)
The illness brought clarity.
It became obvious what was a good use of my time, energy and talents. It was also abundantly clear where I (normally) waste… waste my time, my energy … my gifts. I suddenly knew the tasks I normally hide out and procrastinate with. It was obvious because, while sick, I couldn’t even do them. I couldn’t surf the internet. I couldn’t spend hours-on-end attempting to figure out an administrative issue (time that would be much better spent engaging in creative tasks such as writing, meeting with a client or leading a workshop.)
While sick, I also missed some things. I felt like a child who couldn’t go out and play. I had a crying fit on the couch because I couldn’t go see my boyfriend’s band play and then another when I’d postponed clients for several days. I missed my life and I missed my clients.
What do you miss when you’re sick?
As an actor I used to have to get sick during every role I played in order to have a breakthrough. Why? When I got sick, there was no room for the Soul Suckers. When I got sick, I couldn’t waste energy. When I got sick, I harnessed and unleashed my creative energy. I witnessed multiple directors’ jaws on the floor saying something like “How did you do that with a fever of 103?”
Eventually it occurred to me … what if I brought that kind of ease and creative flow to my performance without being sick? Since that realization, I no longer need an illness to make room for the big breakthroughs. I choose ease and flow from the first rehearsal to the last in every role I play.
What if you chose ease and creative flow without getting sick?
Here’s my challenge for you this week.
Step One: Take a Break. A serious break. Take an entire day off … play hooky.
Step Two: Notice how the world doesn’t end. Really take that in…
Step Three: When you return, see how easy you can make it. That’s right. Challenge yourself to make everything as easy as possible.
With love & passion,
Lauri
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