Good morning. I’m going to be honest as today’s heart-centered practice. . .I’m feeling a bit burnt out.
Every day I work 12- 16 hours a day.
I work for my clients: This week I launched a brand new website and worked on four more. I write their copy. I create their programming. I post on social media. I meet with them to work on their wonderful projects and then sit down and bring the digital parts of them to life!
I also write this blog every day and create one or two videos. I record my podcast. I create and host events for my dad’s legacy. I promote my new book and share its message by doing print, radio, and podcast interviews —sometimes two a day — along with the videos and essays I am creating about heart-centered practice.
And I love it all, and am always immensely grateful for the fruitful and meaningful paid work during this time when all of my appearances and speaking gigs have been cancelled.
But the past few days I have felt burnt out. Every day I sit at a computer and stare at a screen till my shoulders hunch up around my ears and my eyes blur. I need a break.
Recognizing that has been challenging. And that’s what led me to create today’s heart-centered practice. Because to be honest, I’ve been dishonest. In all these interviews I’ve been doing, I keep talking about how heart-centered practice shifted me out of being a miserable workaholic. And it did. I am no longer a miserable workaholic. But I am still a workaholic. Just a happier one.
And that’s dishonest.
The thing about this time of isolation — tomorrow will mark seven weeks since I’ve seen anyone I knew before this time of isolation began — is that we’re having to look long and hard at the tough stuff. And then face that tough stuff. . .because without distractions, we can’t just pretend it doesn’t exist.
So. . .my plan was to take tomorrow off. Finally, a day off to do the thing I love the most — go out and enjoy nature. But the fact of the matter is that even that plan was starting to feel like work. Planning to stop working, instead of just stopping.
And that’s when I realized that I need to make honesty a heart-centered practice. I need to be honest with myself. I don’t know how not to work. I love work. But I need to learn how not to work and have that be just as enjoyable. And so, even more than taking a day off tomorrow, I need to create a new way of working.
Perhaps I need to take some time off today as well. Perhaps I will want to work a little tomorrow — but maybe not compulsively. And how about not cramming in three times the work today to compensate in advance for tomorrow. And then Tuesday not getting up at 4AM and putting the pedal to the metal to make up for the time I missed. How about balance and honesty and a whole new way of working.
Where’s all that listening to my heart that I natter on about?
That’s why today’s heart-centered practice is honesty.
Hello. My name is Victoria. I am a workaholic.
Those were the words with which I began this blog five years ago.
Today I am no longer a miserable workaholic. I find joy in my work. Joy in my walks. Joy in my life.
But I am still a workaholic. And now it’s time for the compulsion and denial to end.
It’s time for every part of my work and my life to become a holistic heart-centered practice. That’s why next month’s practice is going to be Wholeness. The recognition that it’s all one big tapestry — and living that way.
And it starts today.
I am going to take tomorrow off. Will I write a blog? Maybe? Will I take the whole day off and not work. I hope so. But maybe not. We’ll see.
I have no idea. Because, to be honest, I have no idea how not to be a compulsive workaholic.
Yet.
But this much I know. Heart-centered practice can transform anything.
And I’m going to be honest and ask for Love’s help.
What are you going to be honest about today?
Because when we ask from our hearts, Love always answers.
Love always heals.
If you want to listen to today’s heart-centered practice, here you go: