Our capacity has elasticity to it.
You decide how far you will stretch it.
Just like a rubber band, when you over-commit and stretch it too much, you are susceptible to snapping.
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I have this fun activity that I use to help people understand what it feels like to test your Capacity Elasticity
— try and say that 5 times fast! 🙊
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Hold an elastic band between your two index fingers, like I’m doing in this pic. For each question, stretch your fingers apart a little further and say ‘Yes’.
– Hey, do you think you can join this committee? We love to have you apart of it!
Yes.
– Amazing! Actually, you’ve had some much experience, can you lead the committee?
Yes?
– And we’ll need coffee. Can you pick up some coffee before the meeting?
Yes? Great.
– Oh! We’re having a BBQ next weekend, I’d love for you to bring that amazing recipe of yours!
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How is that elastic band feeling now? 😬
Tense. Stretched.
Worried that it might snap?
THIS is how we walk around and this is how we show up.
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Now release the band a bit & find the right tension.
When we are intentional about our capacity, there’s a secure and comfortable tension.
(Now there’s also a state of being underleveraged when there’s not enough tension, so pay attention to that too!)
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⏰We make time for groceries.
⏰We make time for errands.
⏰We make time for meetings & quick coffees.
⏰We make time to “squeeze you in”.
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But we shouldn’t have to MAKE time for moments with our loved ones.
This is where we need to preserve & pace.
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⚖We measure everything else.
⚖We measure our calories.
⚖We measure our weight.
⚖We measure our macros, our micros our bank accounts. We measure time.
But, how many of us actually really consider measuring our capacity?
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So, will you stretch or loosen the elastic band in order to respect your capacity?