Self-Care and Performance

 

1/9/2026 - It is very easy--particularly for driven, achievement-oriented people--to work so hard and push so persistently for success that they stop taking proper care of themselves and the people that matter to them.  If we think of our lives as gardens--and our friends, family, and colleagues as the flowers and plants of the garden--then we can ask ourselves how often we're fertilizing, planting, watering, and weeding.  Or, to use another analogy, our relationships are essential sources of emotional and spiritual fuel.  We can work so hard that we burn out and run out of fuel.

Great questions for self-assessment are:  During this past week, how often did I connect meaningfully with people I care about?  How often did I engage in activities that are fun and enjoyable?  That are fresh and stimulating?  Essential to an energized mind state is variety.  That includes activities that work us out physically, that grow us intellectually, that inspire us spiritually, and connect us socially.  When we care for ourselves, we keep ourselves in peak creative condition and peak focus.

If athletes spent all their time working out and playing competitively, their bodies would break down and their performance would suffer.  Perfect performance never comes from perfectionism.  

How we spend our time shapes the value of our life's efforts.  Drive hard and refuel often.