Filling the bucket

I have a client that is currently dealing with difficult personal challenges. At the same time the business is also going through major change. Although these changes are all very positive and exciting it is never the less exceptionally taxing on the owner, my client.

As much as we like to think we can compartmentalize our lives, the reality is that all of our life 'compartments' tap into the same emotional energy source. I like to call it the emotion bucket.

We fill our buckets with good, positive, nurturing emotions. After throwing a little tantrum on our way to school, I had to explain the emotion bucket concept to my kids. Please note: I threw the tantrum, not the kids.

My bucket was empty. We had a 'challenging' morning, I had to cope with normal mommy morning stuff. The depletion of the bucket was accelerated by lack of sleep and being aware of the waiting workload. An insignificant thing like realising I forgot to return a rented DVD pushed me into an 'empty bucket state'.

During a session with the client I mentioned earlier, it became clear that this person was not allowing herself any opportunity to 'refill' her bucket. She was only focussing on working harder, doing more. Not making time for nurturing, resting, thinking, dreaming and all the other things that help fill our buckets.

Sometimes we only need to become aware of how we are coping (or not coping) to be able to start making life changes. Our self perception measurement tool would do this for you. It gives clear feedback on elements such as this that could be holding you back in life. Have a look on our website http://goo.gl/UhC7V.