So. About that time I accidentally gave myself food poisoning… (I promise we’re going somewhere with this.)
How are we doing today, loves? Is your tank full? Are we running on empty?
(Please know that this is the SUM TOTAL of my ability to make vehicle-related references. Tank full/tank empty. That is all I’ve got here.)
Last week, I managed to accidentally give myself food poisoning. And as I was recovering from eating the thing I wish I did not eat, I kept thinking: Aha! I feel better now! I can do things again!
And then five minutes later I would realize: Nope, I cannot. I feel *better*, but I do not have the capacity for *normal*. Not yet.
I had to tell myself the truth about how full my tank really was.
Because, look, having a full tank does not make you a better person. Having an empty tank also does not make you a better (or worse) person.
The tank is just the tank, it’s not a measure of your worth and value. Right?
The important thing is that we TELL OURSELVES THE TRUTH about how full that tank is.
So how full is your tank?
If we tell ourselves we have a full tank when we’re really running on fumes, we’re going to crash and burn.
And on the other hand, if we tell ourselves we need to hold back every time hard things come up, we’ll never get where we want to go. We’ll never even take the first step.
So here’s what we need to do.
There are just three simple steps here.
1. Check in with yourself.
Ask the question. How full is your tank right now? Check in with your body, mind, and spirit. What’s your capacity today, really? See what answers come up.
2. Give yourself permission to be where you are.
Maybe the tank is empty. Maybe the tank is fuller than you expected.Either way, once you know, you know.
3. Do YOUR next right thing.
Once you know where you really are—not where you wish you were, not where you think you should be, not where you were yesterday, but where you really are right now—you can decide what you need NEXT.
And when you know what you need, you can take one step in that direction.
You don’t have to go from “empty” to “full” all at once. Most of us don’t, most of the time.
But if we’re running on empty, we can start to refuel. And if we do have some gas in the tank, we can start to spend it on purpose. One next right thing at a time. xo.
Also P.S. bonus tip: Food safety rules are for real! I know you don’t want to go back to the grocery store, but please do not eat the expired salad. You’re welcome.
