During my years working in the public and private sector, I noticed a concerning pattern.
Dedicated employees would consistently give their all to their organizations, pouring their energy into projects, mentoring colleagues, solving crises, and managing endless demands. Yet rather than being recognized and protected as the valuable resource it is, this personal energy was often treated as an infinite commodity - something to be used (and sometimes exploited) until there was nothing left.
The consequences? Beyond the obvious burnout, I witnessed talented professionals become disconnected from their sense of purpose, losing touch with what originally drew them to their work. Their creativity dimmed. Their enthusiasm waned. Their ability to maintain healthy boundaries eroded. Most concerning was how this began to feel normal, even expected.
This observation led me to explore the deeper aspects of energy management in professional settings. What I discovered was that many workplace wellness initiatives, while well-intentioned, only address surface-level symptoms. They offer quick fixes - breathing exercises, meditation apps, wellness challenges - without examining the fundamental relationship between personal energy and professional output. These techniques are helpful, don’t get me wrong. But they can’t be a long term solution to a problem that’s never addressed.Â
The truth is, our energy isn't just about having enough pep to get through the day. It's the fundamental force behind our ability to think clearly, make sound decisions, maintain healthy professional relationships, and access our creativity and intuition. When our energy is scattered and fragmented, so is our concentration, our focus, and our sense of self. When we're depleted, we're not just tired - we're operating at a fraction of our true capability.
Consider how often you:
Leave meetings feeling inexplicably exhausted, even when they weren't particularly challenging
Find yourself unable to maintain appropriate professional boundaries
Feel disconnected from your work's deeper purpose
Struggle to access your natural creativity and problem-solving abilities
Notice your intuition about situations and people becoming clouded or even non-existent
These are all signs that your energy needs attention and restoration.
The solution isn't another productivity hack or time management system. It's about understanding that your energy is sacred and learning to treat it accordingly. This means developing a conscious relationship with how you expend and restore your energy, at home and throughout the workday.
You can learn to recognize when you need to step back and recenter. And to treat your energy like an investment, not an expense. This shift in perspective - from viewing energy as an unlimited resource to treating it as something precious and finite - can transform not just individual careers but entire organizational cultures. When we learn to honor and protect our energy, we model this behavior for others, creating workplaces where sustainable success becomes possible.
The question isn't whether you can afford to take time to restore your energy. The question is: what opportunities, insights, and impact are you missing when you don't?
If you're interested in learning how to reclaim your energy and developing techniques to ground and center, my membership program, The Nebula, may be for you. It's a virtual community for learning, support, and connection. I also offer monthly workshops and events covering a variety of spiritual topics. You can learn more and register for individual events here.
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