Recently, I saw this little hand-drawn image in the Belmont Athletics women’s locker room. It says “Let’s root for each other and watch each other grow.”
This little sign got me thinking… It is GREAT to root for others and help them, but if your cup is not full, you will struggle to give to others without draining yourself.
Oof. Let that one sink in.
We need to fill our cups before we can pour into other people around us and do everything to the best of our ability.
“So Laura, How can I fill my cup?” GREAT QUESTION!
It first starts with not depleting your cup. If you pour out a little, refill a little. Have a hard week at school? Practice? Social life? Your cup probably needs some refilling.
Here are some ideas:
- Going to church on Sunday (even if no one goes with you).
- Taking a drive, listening to your favorite music or podcast.
- Grabbing lunch with a good friend.
- Picking up a hobby such as painting, coloring, or journaling.
- Spending time in nature.
- My personal favorite: spending time at a coffee shop getting all of my “To-Do’s” done so I can lift that weight off my shoulders.
It looks differently for everyone. What works for me, might not work for you and that’s the beautiful thing about being different people with different hobbies and interests.
Take-away
To be there for your family, friends, and team, you first have to fill your cup so you can pour into your relationships with them. It’s important to nurture those relationships but first, you have to be in the right space to flourish!
It’s important to water your pot, before you water the garden around you. By doing this, everyone can be nurtured.
Stay cool, stay kind.
