Let’s talk today about how you can leverage your energy to shift to a positive outlook and enjoy the rest of the holiday season. 

As an intuitive empath we can often feel drained at this time of year, and with all of the changes in the Universe and the evolution of our planet as a whole . . .it is a lot! 

If you are hitting the wall in your life – burnout, fatigued, and a creeping doubt that your life will ever be joyful again – let’s pause for a moment. 

This is a time of historical personal growth. You might be questioning everything. “Is this all that life as an empath has to offer? Do I have what it takes to grow and protect my energy? What if this is a sign that I am really not supposed to flow energy naturally to others?

I have a lot of intuitive empaths who come to me saying, “Deanna, I have worked harder on myself this year than I ever have, and I have created healthy boundaries, yet it still feels like I am missing something because I am exhausted and I don’t know if I know my own self-worth anymore.” 

And when this happens, I tell them to hold on. Just give yourself grace. 

Why? Because there’s a process to move beyond the obstacles that you are facing. The key is to look at those challenges as a way to grow. 

Let’s take a look at exhaustion for intuitive empaths. 

You may have heard of the book Start with No – this is exactly the mindset that I’m talking about. There are energy drains that are holding you back that a simple shift in your mindset can create the path to reclaim your energy. It was a major break through that resulted in a deeper understanding of energy tools.

So how do we do that? 

Let’s talk about what is called the Columbo Effect. I began using this process for myself and incorporated it into my mindset teachings a few months ago. Maybe you heard me talk about this before.

The Pivot Process for Intuitive Empath burnout. 

The Columbo Effect is inspired by the book Start with No: The Negotiating Tools that the Pros Don’t Want You to Know, and if you have not read it, you will recognize the premise of the win-win negotiating technique that involves a compromise between the parties so that everyone feels like they win. 

The American crime drama television series Columbo, featured a detective who allowed other people to feel okay while reserving his energy to detect what was going on without draining his own mental emotional energy. His first line of defense was that he did not promote the win-win strategy. Instead, he allowed others to feel they were okay while he could sense what was really happening.

I am sharing this with you because at first a win-win solution seems appealing, you feel like you are giving, and are seen as a compassionate person that everyone can rely on. You begin to put forth your own personal energy in good faith. And then something changes – more is expected of you than you agreed to, and you end up giving way more of your time and energy. . . ending up exhausted, depleted, and let’s face it resentful. You can use the Columbo Effect to budget your own energy without giving too much away.

How do you achieve the Columbo Effect? By understanding your own energy budget first. 

Energy Budgeting Process

Imagine if you could go back to the start of a difficult situation that drained your energy. What if you had the opportunity to learn from your mistakes and adjust your approach?

You can. 

This is what we do at Tools of Energy Protection. And here is how the process works. 

1. What is your time budget? Make a list of the self-care activities that you do on a daily basis. How much time do you need to attend to those activities? How do they contribute to your feelings of wellbeing? Make them a priority – a must. These activities are non-negotiable. 
2. Set Boundaries. Take an honest look at your budget. How much time and energy do you have each day? How much time will saying yes to an opportunity cost you, or profit you? What is the emotional investment and how will that drive your time and energy spent?
3.  Identify Energy Drainers. Reflect on the activities, environments, habits, or people that exhaust you and adjust accordingly. Remember that no is an okay answer – and a complete sentence. Notice your natural rhythms and plan demanding tasks when your energy is peak. Limit your interactions with toxic people, or negative relationships. 
4. Create non-negotiable processes to make these changes real. Plan regular check-ins with yourself to evaluate if your resources of time, energy, money, and emotions are being spent wisely. 

This is how you turn things around. I have seen it happen in my clients’ lives, as well as my own, whose empathic burnout pushed them to feel like they were on the verge of giving up. 

By taking time to assess what works, and what does not work when it comes to budgeting your energy, and noticing what you can do differently right now, will give you a fresh start. 

You will recognize why it is okay to set boundaries, adopt a new process, and prioritize your needs so that ultimately you can create a life that you enjoy, a rich fulfilling life. 

So, if you are feeling like it’s all too much, don’t throw in the towel just yet. Give yourself time, and we will work through this together. We can help you reach a life in which you are thriving as an intuitive empath, not just surviving.

Sound good? Let’s those take obstacles and turn them into steppingstones to your success. 

Ready to get started right now?

Hugs, Deanna