I spent last week in Sonoma, California, working as an assistant at a leadership retreat (the first of four retreats that are part of the CTI Leadership Program).
So basically, I moved chairs around, manned the video camera, and sat in the back of the room quietly observing and “holding space” for 6 days.
When I say it like that, it doesn’t sound like very much. But the truth is that “holding space” means staying completely present and open-hearted. And energetically being there in the room with the leaders and participants as one-by-one they were transformed and busted open. For 6 days.
That takes a lot of focus and energy. I didn’t realize how much until I got home.
On Sunday evening when I got home, I was still riding high and I talked Dan’s ear off. But I woke up on Monday feeling like I had been hit with a ton of bricks. And then Tuesday, I felt like someone had shattered the bricks with a sledgehammer.
In other words, I was spent. Tired. Exhausted. Pooped.
So I’ve had to let go of the big plans I had for this week and just… rest.
And I re-learned the importance of good self-care and making time to recover. That’s what this week’s video is about.
Links & stuff about Introversion & HSPs (in case you want more info):
- Are you an introvert? (quiz)
- Susan Cain’s Ted Talk about Introversion
- HSP = Highly Sensitive Person
- HSP Self-Test
Let me know in the comments below what you do to recover when you are bone-tired? And also, how easy or hard is it for you to give yourself that time? (that is, do you feel guilty or selfish? And if so, why?).
P.S. This week’s post is later than planned (Wednesday is usually my post day) because I didn’t plan for my rest & recovery & self-care the way I should have. Live and learn.
Thanks for sharing this video:) Working full time and being a mom is wonderful but can be very draining. I know that I am a much better mother and teacher when I give myself time to rest a little.
Loved this! I haven’t taken the test, but I’m pretty sure that I’m a HSP. I’m still learning what it means for me to recover, but I’m slowly becoming less guilty about those mornings that I need to sleep in.
Thanks Danetha! It took me a long time to accept that I needed more rest than I thought I “should”. But in the long run, it makes everything else so much easier/better when I give myself what I need. You’re doing important work in the world and that takes energy, so there’s no guilt in sleeping when you need to ;)