Six Essential Practices for Sustained Energy, Resilience, and Inspired productivity
Dear Friends,
I always try to be real with you and the truth is, it has been a very painful couple weeks on my end.
Yesterday marked the 40th day since Mahsa Amini’s death. While the movement in Iran and all the global solidarity has been incredibly inspiring, the daily news has also been horrific, utterly heartbreaking, and very difficult to process, especially as an Iranian-American.
And I know I’m not alone. Many Iranians in the diaspora are going through collective trauma, struggling to remain functional, and feeling guilty for having any ease and joy while so many people are suffering and dying back in Iran.
At the same time, my clients deserve that I show up for them and their businesses as my best self. I need to be fully present with them intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. I need to stay sharp and focused as they rely on me to help them see their blindspots, think through their challenges, and strategize for their growth.
Thankfully, despite everything that has been going on, I’ve been managing to not only show up for my clients and my work, but be sharper than ever and even outperform my usual self! And no, I haven’t been just “pushing through” and avoiding the news or how I’m feeling, in fact, the opposite.
So I thought for today’s letter, I take some time to reflect on what has been helping me and share in case it may inspire you to start incorporating these practices that I believe are essential for long-term resilience, energy, and inspired productivity.
Here we go…
I let myself feel my emotions and practice self-compassion. I try my best not to identify with the emotions, but I do acknowledge them (e.g. instead of “I am sad/angry/frustrated/anxious”, I tell myself, “I am feeling sad/angry/frustrated/anxious”). I give myself permission to FEEL and ride the waves. No matter how painful it feels, I know it will pass if I embrace it and feel it. But if I resist it, it will follow me like a cloud and start to weigh me down. Journaling about what I’m experiencing also helps me feel heard and validated. I literally give myself pep talks and talk to myself like I would to a child I adore. I know it sounds silly, but it is very comforting and this practice is backed by research.
I allow external support. I’ve been taking time to talk and share what is coming up for me with family, friends, and trusted advisors. Non-Iranian friends have also been reaching out and offering their support and I’ve been taking them up on it. I have been giving myself permission to receive, to be held, to be heard, and to be supported by the people I trust and feel safe with.
I’m being extra gentle with myself and giving myself a break whenever I can. For example, I rescheduled networking calls that were not particularly urgent to save my energy for more pressing commitments. I have also been saying “no” to random requests for my time and expertise that I would normally feel guilty saying “no” to. And if I don’t have the energy for my regular workout class, I listen to my body and go for a walk instead.
I continue to prioritize my mental health and my nervous system. This means that in addition to the previous items, I make sure I move my body throughout the day, get some fresh air and time in nature, nourish my body properly, set boundaries with the news and social media, meditate, practice breathwork, practice gratitude, and try my best to get enough sleep. NONE of this has been easy to stick to during this time. But I don’t aim for perfection. I know that every little drop in the bucket helps, even if it is just a walk around the block, two minutes of meditation, and three deep breaths.
To consistently show up, I remember that life is about “AND.” Life is always a mixed bag. I can feel sad, angry, and horrified about what is happening AND feel inspired and hopeful about the future. I can be grieving AND still find moments of joy during the day. I can feel worried and scared for the people and my family in Iran AND feel excited to be there for my clients. I can have a good cry in the morning AND feel inspired to get some work done in the afternoon. I give myself credit for showing up and taking small steps.
I am staying focused on the here and NOW and my WHY like I’ve never done before! I have no idea what news I’m going to wake up to tomorrow, so all I can do is to focus on today and do the best that I can. It has forced me to let go of any attachments I had to outcomes, and prioritize the progress I can make today. I also keep thinking about how these women are showing up and risking their lives for their basic freedoms, the least I can do is to show up to my office and exercise mine! And given the situation, I can’t help but to be constantly reminded of my why: I’m here to help women shine their light and heal our world through their presence and impact. While I fear for the women in Iran, I also feel inspired and energized by their example and courage and have been channeling all of this into my calls and my work.
All of these practices combined create powerful synergy that at the core, comes down to this: The more attention I devote to processing these difficult emotions and realities and taking care of my mental health and nervous system, the more connected I feel with myself, my internal wisdom, and the present moment. This allows me to have more clarity about my life and work, take inspired action, be more efficient, and keep showing up for others despite what I’m personally going through.
So the next time you feel guilty about taking some time for yourself in the midst of all the chaos, worries, and obligations, I hope you remember this: investing in your mental health and wellbeing is the best investment you can make!
It will payoff big time for you and for everyone that you take care of and serve. I hope you start incorporating these practices to help you feel your best now and to be able to sustain your energy when more intense periods arise. Remember: don’t aim for perfection, every drop of progress counts! Start with just taking one big DEEP breath now…
Also, if you or someone you know is going through a difficult time, I have a useful (and free) guide with 10 strategies to help folks recover quickly and emerge as a more powerful, confident, and radiant person. You can get The Leader’s Guide to Overcoming Life’s Unexpected Hardships, here.
Praying for better days for the people of Iran and for “zan, zendegi, azadi” (Women, Life, Freedom) to prevail…
Sending you all lots of love,
Maliheh