Last time I wrote about how instead of valuing productivity, I now value feeling good.
And because I choose feeling good over productivity, my life is way different.
For one, I feel better more often. (Hi Captain Obvious!)
Another one is that by choosing to feel good, I also regularly meet my COE’s as Jen Louden calls them.
Conditions of Enoughness.
The other day I had a copywriting project to wrap up for someone. It was hanging out in the background of my mind but I just hadn’t made the leap to finalize it. So I went to Panera’s and gave myself a 3 hour time block to get it done in.
With the help of some good tunes and a window to look out of when I needed to daydream a bit, I got it totally finished in 90 minutes and my clients loved the work I did.
So guess what?
I let that be enough for the entire day!
That was all the work I was going to do and that’s all the work I did.
It was so cool.
I didn’t once think about all the stuff I “should be doing” that I wasn’t doing.
Was there stuff I *could* have been doing?
Of course. There always is…and there always will be other things I *could* be doing.
But should?
Not anymore.
Not when I declare what enough is and then lean into that and ride it.
It was totally enough that I completed that project. It was a big deal to finish it.
Totally enough. And because I declared that it was enough, I got to experience other things during my day.
Not knowing where enough is with work.
When I work without knowing what enough is, it’s like overeating.
I don’t listen to the signal to stop – if I even notice the signal at all.
I don’t know when to stop stuffing myself with work.
I don’t know how to feel good about what I’ve already done.
Not knowing what Enough is actually affects me negatively.
Because then I work work work – don’t take care of myself – then wind up in trouble.
What kind of life is that?
Learning how to identify what Enough is in my life may be one of the best lessons I’ve learned all year.
I use it around food. I use it around work. I use it around my body. Around my friendships. It’s amazing.
I’m even getting better at recognizing the Enoughness after the fact if I forget to declare it beforehand.
(Thank you for bringing Enough to life for me, Jen. )
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, this is so insightful! Often I set “enough” work way out there in the future, like “when I’ve paid off all my debts,” and even more often use some undefinable “stuff has finally happened that I think will help me to feel safe (or worthy, approved of, etc).” Definitely one of my areas to clean up.
@Beverly Totally know what you mean. So now we get a chance to bring our experience of Enoughness more immediate. More now. More in the moment. It’s not way out there. It’s right here. Totally attainable. Easy to attain…and one of the things I love about how Jen Louden puts it…is: could this thing I want to achieve be done by me on an AVERAGE day? Not a day when I’m super human and have no distractions and everything goes swimmingly. Because that’s not my typical day. If I use that as a guideline for creating my goals, I’m much more likely to accomplish them because they’re things that fit into my day naturally – instead of trying to force my day around my activities.
Mona, that was beautiful. Just what I needed to hear. “I choose feeling good over productivity”. I’m so tweeting that.
Thank you for the reminder to be aware of my personal enough-ness and let it be my guide.
Lauren Lionheart´s last blog ..Top 12 Ways Super Greens Make You Feel Good
@Lauren Wonderful! So glad that it resonated with you. May you choose feeling good more often and have fun doing it!