Hello!

...and Welcome to this second issue of Time to Think - the bi-monthly e-zine of The Results Agency - dedicated to helping you thrive at work.

And a special welcome to new subscribers.

In this issue the theme is Energy. You'll find practical tips for dealing with personal energy "PESTs" and an opportunity to learn about "Energy Vampires" and "Energy Angels". And don't miss this issue's special offer for subscribers, worth at least £100.

I'm delighted to say that this issue also contains a special article by Rose Cameron on Subtle Energy Awareness and how you can use it to improve your state of mind. Rose is a body therapist and trainer who has worked and written in this area for a number of years - I'm sure you'll find her article useful and thought-provoking.

Enjoy!

P.S. This may seem like an odd time of year to be writing about energy, since the natural rhythym of Spring is high energy growth. If you want to maintain those energy levels into the lazier days of summer, however, you may need to make one or two changes - and times of high energy are much more conducive to making changes than when your energy levels are dropping. So check out the next piece on Personal Energy Sinks and Traps, and get started now!

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PEST Control

How are your personal energy levels right now? Is your energy clean and flowing, or stuck and stagnant? Personal Energy Sinks & Traps or “PESTs” show up in all our lives. PESTs drain your personal energy, sap your enthusiasm and zap your zest. The symptoms range from feeling "a bit below par", to chronic stress and tiredness.

Here are some PESTs you might recognise, and tips on how to release your energy from them.

"Last-Minute-Larry-ism" - Like constant fire-fighting, operating in last minute panic mode results in missed deadlines, unpunctuality, stress and poorer performance. You'll always feel like you're running to catch up - and probably start to resent it too. To get out of "Last-Minute-Larry" mode:

• Start adding at least 25% to any estimates you make of how long something will take
• Make those tough decisions about prioritising what's really important
• Remind yourself that you and your work deserve better

By the way: You may kid yourself that you work better under pressure but this is not true. No-one works better under pressure. What you mean is that you "need" an imminent deadline to get going. Perhaps work on your motivation is in order?

Avoidance - The amount of energy it takes to avoid doing something is often more than it would take to do it. (And certainly far more than it would take to delegate it!) So what's going on? Well, that's a good question - and one to which only you have the answer. Perhaps you're avoiding something in order to avoid something else, in order to avoid something else...? You need to get to grips with what's at the bottom. And remember, just because something's on your to-do list doesn't mean that you actually have to do it. (Make sure you examine how things get on to your "to-do" list in the first place.) Top tips for dealing with avoidance:

1. Do the things you avoid first
2. Do them at a time in the day when your energy levels are high, and/or you're feeling positive
3. Positively reframe the task/activity - for example - going to the dentist could be framed (negatively) as "unpleasant nuisance when I'm so busy", or (positively) as "important time out to take care of my well-being"
4. Figure out what you're really avoiding - then deal with that.

Lack of Completion - Lots of us love to start projects. That high-enthusiasm "start-up" energy can be intoxicating. Keeping projects going requires a more "slow-release" energy. Like a computer with too many applications open, if you've too many projects going at once, you may find yourself unable to crank the handle on any of them. Stalled projects have their own way of draining energy especially if you feel bad every time you think about them hanging around.

Completion doesn't necessarily mean you have to finish the project yourself - maybe you could hand it over to someone else, or close it down?

Lack of completion can relate to anything - old relationships, past jobs, the promotion/business you didn't get, etc. Sometimes all that's required is a little symbolic ritual to help you release your energy and move on. Try writing down the issue and burning the paper in the sink - then wash the ashes down the plughole.

...You know, as I'm writing this I'm thinking: you probably know a lot of this already. The key question is: What's stopping you from doing something about it? Perhaps you're thinking: "Its all very well reading this, but what do I do next?" Well, would you like my help? How about a FREE 45 minute, no obligation, consultation?   "Yes, please..."

(You might notice I haven't mentioned other people's negativity here - that's because there's a whole article about it later... Watch out for the angels and the vampires in your life...)

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Relax and Revive

Need to chill out, unwind or re-energise? You've come to the right place...

The Waterfall Exercise

If you have trouble switching off from work, or when you need to "cleardown" before or after an important meeting, try this powerful exercise.

It's best to be able to relax and close your eyes during this - why not let me talk you through it: I've recorded this exercise as an mp3 file, which you can download for free.

Sit or lie down comfortably. Take a few moments to relax your body, starting with your toes and working up to your scalp - don't forget your hands and fingers. Breath normally, allowing yourself to relax more on each outbreath.

Imagine yourself in a landscape - it could be somewhere in the countryside, in the mountains, by the sea. Notice the plants and rocks around you and the gentle breeze. A little way off is a waterfall - slowly make your way over to it. In a moment you're going to step under the waterfall, but first, you can put down anything you've been carrying. Let the water carry away anything that you don't need anymore. Anything you want to keep can safely be put down on the ground.

Now step under the waterfall. The water is a perfect temperature for you. Allow yourself to be aware of the water flowing over your head and your face, washing away any tension, your head and face becoming soft and warm and heavy. The water flows over your neck and shoulders - these are becoming soft and heavy and relaxed. In this way, and taking as much time as you wish, move your attention to your arms and hands, your back and chest, your buttocks and hips, your legs and feet - each part of you becoming soft and warm and heavy as the water washes away any tension or negativity - taking these down into the earth where they can be recycled.

Stay under the water for as long as you wish.

When you're ready, step out of the waterfall into the sunshine. Feel the warm sunshine filling you up golden light from the tips of your toes, to the tips of your fingers, to the top of your head. Sit, lie down, or move about, as you feel appropriate, and let the warm air and golden sunshine dry you. Take as long as you wish.

When you feel ready, gently bring yourself back to today, and the room. Become aware of the sounds around you ... birds, traffic, etc ... In your own time, begin to wiggle your fingers and toes, and when you feel ready, slowly open your eyes and return fully to the present - calm, alert and ready to concentrate on whatever you need to do next.

Notes: Other examples of where this exercise is useful: when you want to concentrate on a creative project; when you've been rushing about and want to find stillness; when you need to change roles, or otherwise "shift gear". It's also excellent for clearing negativity, malice, or other "bad vibes" directed at you from others, picked up in unfriendly environments, or just hanging around generally! (I first learned this exercise from Rose Cameron on one of her excellent workshops and have used it to great effect, both personally, and with clients ever since. My thanks to Rose for allowing me to share it with you...

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Subtle Energy - Changing Your Frame of Mind

by Rose Cameron

How much do you know about what puts you in the right frame of mind? Do you mentally psyche yourself up for important meetings or interviews? Deliberately stop thinking about work issues in order to relax? Or does being in the right frame of mind happen (or not) by chance?

For some, controlling their thinking works really well. For others, getting into the right state is a more elusive process that involves the body as much as it does the mind. There is a plethora of information on changing the way one thinks, but very little indeed on the other, more elusive, process, which is not so easy to discuss within the confines of a western world view.

The most commonly recognized example, in the west, of this other kind of process is the notion of being ‘grounded’ (in the sense of being fully present in one’s body). The idea of being grounded is, as a concept, somewhat incongruent with a mainstream western world view, which does not allow for us to be anywhere other than in our body; but the idea of being grounded nevertheless means something to many of us in the west – we know what it feels like.

The absence of a conceptual context such as a spirit body, or a vital energy like the Chinese chi, means that processes (like becoming grounded) are easier to explore experientially rather than conceptually. Pause in reading this for a moment, and do whatever it is you do to become grounded, and then describe the process to yourself. You may have experienced sensations such as tingles or shivers, or felt as if you were moving back down into your body. You may also have noticed this when doing the waterfall exercise, as this is basically a grounding exercise.

Of course grounding yourself, and observing the process by which you do so, will work only if you are somewhat ungrounded in the first place. If you are grounded whilst reading this, you may find it easier to notice movement on the horizontal rather than vertical axis. Think of someone you really like; imagine them somewhere else in the room, and just focus on them for a few moments before reading on. As you begin to read again, you may just retain awareness of a sensation of returning to your body after extending out to your imaginary person.

You may notice these kinds of subtle shifts if you imagine yourself in different situations. You may also notice, if you hold the shift for long enough, a change in your state of mind and mood. Try gently extending as you did when imagining the person you like, and let yourself stay extended for a while - you may notice yourself feeling happier and more outgoing. You may also notice that other people respond to you more positively.

Where we hold ourselves in relation to our body is entwined with our emotional process, mental processes, way of breathing, and degree of physical tension. Changing any one of these aspects changes all the others. If, like me and many others, you find that changing where you are in relation to your body is the easiest way of changing your whole way of being, pay close attention to these subtle shifts, describe them to yourself, and then use this awareness to put yourself in the most appropriate state for your current situation.

© 2006 Rose Cameron

More information about subtle energy awareness, and Rose's courses and workshops, can be found at www.energyawareness.co.uk, or by emailing Rose directly at energyawareness@quista.net

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Vampire or Angel?

Who was it said "Hell is other people"? Well sometimes heaven is other people too...So pay special attention to the people you include in your life...

Many of us are lucky enough to know people who radiate positive energy; friends with whom you feel restored to inner health; colleagues who leave you feeling good about yourself. These “Energy Angels” give freely of their time and talents, without giving away themselves. (People who give, give, give to the point where they secretly resent it are not Energy Angels.)

Who are your Energy Angels? When you identify one, have a think about what it is that they do to produce this effect - then have a go at doing this yourself. Become your own Energy Angel! And make sure you let them know how much you appreciate their positive vibes!

On the flip side, there is also the Energy Vampire! The Energy Vampire will suck you dry and leave you feeling low. They’ll undermine your self-esteem, and damage your well-being, often in subtle ways. Here are some examples of the kinds of behaviours of people operating in Energy Vampire mode:

• “friends” who only call when they want something, or spend all of your time together talking about themselves and their problems
• colleagues who talk about everyone behind their backs but never to their faces
• the boss who’s quick to point out what you’ve done wrong but never gives praise or credit for success
• clients who always want you to go that "extra mile", but don't actually give you that much business, and never refer anyone to you
• people who like to throw impromptu “negativity parties” – around the coffee machine, in meetings, in the pub, at home

How many Energy Vampires do you know? And what other Energy Vampire behaviours or attitudes can you identify?

Ideally, you should limit the time you spend with "Energy Vampires", even if that means reviewing the viability of the relationship. Resist any inclination to join in with negative behaviours, and imagine you're surrounded by a "negativity shield" when in their company. Dealing with the other PESTs in your life, and making sure you access plenty of energy sources should also help to redress the balance.

I believe that we all have the potential to be an Energy Angel or an Energy Vampire – which mode have you been operating in?

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