In order to have healthy relationships and find success in our careers or projects, we must have an adequate amount of fulfillment, love, and self care for ourselves. Without having these, our ability to experience an enjoyable life becomes less probable. Imagine that you're a pitcher of water—if you're nearly full you'll be able to pour some of yourself into many different glasses, and still have some water left over for yourself. But, if your pitcher isn't very full at all you won't be able to give much to the other cups—and if you do, you'll be left empty. This feeling of emptiness can occur when we don't take the proper care for ourselves needed to sustain a healthy life.
Family
Family obligations can play a huge role in our lives. There's a lot of pressure in families, especially if you're a provider. You have to make sure you're responsible for the finances, groceries, bills, entertainment, and taking care of your family's emotional and mental needs. For a family to be functional, there needs to be a balance between all of the relationships. If you're someone who takes on a lot of the responsibilities and aren't receiving something in return—eventually you will feel drained and possibly resentful. You must have healthy boundaries in all of your relationships in order for them to truly be beneficial. Taking care of your family is just as important as taking care of yourself, and if either of these aren't being fulfilled—then this will cause disfunction. To keep harmony within your family unit, each of you must do your fare share in taking care of it. One of the most important things you can do to benefit your family is to give yourself time and attention. When you allow yourself time to reflect and rejuvenate, you'll then have more energy to put into your family's obligations.
Work Life Balance
Work is another area of life that can take more away from ourselves than it may give back. It's important to keep a balance between your work life and personal life. There are times where you may have more work obligations than your personal life may allow, and you'll choose to work more than spend time doing things you enjoy. This is only okay for a short period of time because you need to allow time for yourself in order to recharge. When you invest too much of your energy into your work, you drain the energy from all of the other aspects of your life. Then, after a while, you may feel like your life has no meaning. If you can find a job that brings you joy and purpose, that's great, and that will help you stay feeling full-filled. But, if your job doesn't give you purpose or joy—then you must spend time doing things you enjoy outside of it. When you do things that bring you joy, your cup is refilled, and your perspective rises and your emotions are more positive. This is important because when you're in a state of wholeness you will feel more passionate and meaningful about your life.
Self Care
If you've found yourself feeling overwhelmed or overburdened by life's responsibilities, it's time to bring some of your focus back onto yourself. Dedicate time each day to do something that you enjoy, like reading, watching your favorite movie, cooking a delicious meal, going for a walk, or spending time with friends. Take time for yourself and reconnect with the aspect of you that has hobbies, interests, and ambitions. Practice other forms of self care, like meditating, exercising, choosing healthier food options, and living in gratitude. When you allow yourself time and energy to release the burdens of your responsibilities and allow yourself to experience joy—you're offering yourself a love that is powerful enough to refill even the emptiest of cups.
