I speak with physicians asking for coaching all the time who are at the end of their rope and don’t know what to do. They have completely ‘run out of gas’ and need help. As I was pondering this problem I got an email from my friend Kirk Duncan, who is a coach’s coach.
As I read through his email I realized many physicians were facing the very problem he was addressing: Being completely out of gas! I contacted Kirk and asked for permission to share his email with you and of course he said yes. So, today we have a guest post from Kirk Duncan. Now you will see what moved me that day.
What is that doing out here?
We were traveling through New Mexico on a family vacation. We came over the top of a hill and were shocked to see a school bus pulled off to the side of the road. This was in the middle of nowhere. No schools anywhere.
As we drove by we saw a woman and a small child standing at the back of the bus holding a sign….we were driving too fast to see what it read.
They need help.
We were on our way to our destination and there were people waiting for us so we had an agenda…but when you see someone else who is stranded on the side of the road with the sun going down how can you just leave them?
We turned around.
We found out that they were out of gas. So we jumped in to help as much as we could.
The look on her face when we pulled up was a look I will always remember….that look of helpless….turning into hopeful, “help is here”.
It’s true, and it happens to each of us at some point in our lives.
We drop into that place of hopelessness…or helpless….
We wish someone could see that we are “stranded” and notice us and just offer to help.
Maybe I can help you today?
Or maybe I can help you be ready….because the chance of you coming across someone who is “out of gas” mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually, is really high.
Why do we run Out of Gas? (Mentally, Emotionally, Spiritually, Physically)
- Not watching the gauge?
- Didn’t know how far you could go on a full tank?
- Don’t have the resources to fill back up?
- Don’t take the time?
- Too busy?
- Others are more important?
- We forget about ourselves…
If we don’t “watch” for the SIGNS that show us that we are running low….we end up shutting down unexpectedly.
What SIGNS do you watch for that indicate you are running low?
- Poor eating habits
- Falling asleep in the middle of the day
- Short – Sharp Tone with family / friends
- Numb brain or foggy brain?
- Hopeless feelings
- Thoughts that degrade you or what you are doing
There are 1,000 things you could do today…everyday that “1,000 list” is still there.
Look at your calendar, do you see time planned to take care of yourself?
No plan? Then do this…
- GO TO BED – 30 minutes earlier that you usually do.
- STOP media consumption 1 hour before bed.
- UP the amount of greens you are getting into your body.
- MOVE – Go for a 20 min walk each day – 10 min out and 10 min back
Today, I was lifting weights in my garage and I was heading up to my office to start working….and I stopped and thought…wait, I still want to go for my mountain hike this morning….and I heard a voice in my head say… “You can’t go for a walk, you have too much to do”.
So I started up the stairs to my office and stopped again…I turned around and went back to the garage and put my shoes on. I said to myself, “work is always there and I really, really like my mountain hike and it is more important than work because it is for me”. I got choked up….I headed out the door…left my phone in the garage…and started up the trail behind where I live.
My life, my health, and my sanity must be in my hands.
If not….I most likely will find misery knocking on my door.
Take care of yourself just a little bit better today.
There is only one of you.
I hope you heard Kirk’s message loud and clear: Only you can decide to take care of you. If you are at the end of your rope or running out of gas, don’t go it alone. Please contact me for coaching. You will find information about preventing burnout throughout my blog and in whichever of my Doctors Guide to books speaks to your current situation.
If you wish to contact Kirk you can do so through his website: 3keyelements.com
Be sure to tell him I said Hi.
