Take a rubber band and stretch it horizontally between your hands. Stretch it as far as you can without breaking it. Now imagine this rubber band is you.
You’re flexible, but there’s a limit to how far you can stretch yourself. Just like a rubber band, you have a breaking point.
Stretched to your limits, you feel like you can’t add one more thing to your to-do list. But if you’re relaxed and balanced, you can easily add more things.
Every day your rubber band stretches and loosens depending on the tasks in front of you. Sometimes your complete focus is required to meet a deadline or solve a customer problem. Other times you feel bored and search for more to do.
How flexible are you?
On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being completely relaxed and 10 being completely overwhelmed – what number describes your life? Is your rubber band about to break?
Here are some signs you might be at a 10.
- Your endless to-do list just keeps getting longer.
- You’re frequently frustrated with others for not doing their share of the work.
- You feel like you’re going 100 mph but still falling behind.
What is your overall capacity to grow?
When you stretch a rubber band as far as it will go, and then put more stress on it, it breaks. So the only way you can expand it is by easing your grip and releasing some of the tension. The same is true for your ability to take on new things.
Imagine a rubber band being stretched vertically. With one hand on top, and the other on the bottom, it’s reached its maximum capacity.
You can’t move it because there’s no more room to stretch.
But if you release some of the tension at the bottom, you can stretch it higher, giving you room to grow and expand.
Your capacity for growth is rooted in how much space you’re willing to create in your rubber band. In other words, what are you willing to let go of so you can grow?
Releasing the tension at the bottom seems obvious when you’re imagining a rubber band, but doing it in real life can be a challenge. Here are 3 ways to make room for growth when you’re feeling stretched to capacity:
1.Identify what no longer serves you.
This is honoring that certain aspects of your life were key to reaching your current state but, to go higher, you have to let them go.
A friend shared how she desperately wanted to create more room in her rubber band. She had been part of a community group that met weekly for 14 years. She had developed close friendships, but the group took a significant part of her time. And while they helped her grow over the years, they weren’t challenging her to go higher. When she was honest with herself, she realized the group was holding her back and keeping tension at the bottom of her rubber band.
With a great deal of sadness, she withdrew from the group. And while she feared disappointing the members, she said the first thing she noticed after she announced the change was an immediate shift in her rubber band.
As the tension was released, she felt herself relax and her perspective broadened.
2. Welcome this time of rest and allow spaciousness.
If you’re used to operating with a rubber band that is constantly stretched to a 9 or 10, this release in tension will be welcome at first. But you might immediately tighten it up again by committing to new things. This happens because you’re used to operating at high capacity. And while you might be crossing a lot of tasks off your to-do lists, you might not be growing personally or professionally.
Pause to consider what you need. It’s not only about what you want to experience next but knowing when you’re ready to step into something new.
Allow your mind, body, and heart to rest and recover before jumping into the next thing.
This is your chance to be intentional about the direction you want your rubber band to expand. If you want to grow, you must understand what you need to experience next to stay on your desired path.
This release of tension is a chance to enjoy the spaciousness. Allow yourself to get bored. Trust that the next thing will appear when the time is right for you to grow.
3. Seek alignment.
As you consciously decide to grow, know how your next endeavor aligns with the impact you want to have in the world. It’s easy to say yes to the requests of others. People are grateful for your help. But is this direction ultimately serving you? Does it let you grow and expand your natural talents?
You just created room in your rubber band by consciously releasing something that no longer served you. Make sure what you pick up next truly helps you grow in a direction aligned with your highest good.
You bring the most good to the world when you choose to engage in activities that allow your natural gifts and talents to shine.
How will you ensure your rubber band won’t break? What can you let go of so you can create space for new growth and opportunities?