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Energy, conservation of. I remember learning something about that in Physics class. In this case, I'm talking about emotional and spiritual energy, but that law of Physics still applies. Those clicky metal balls that captivated me as a kid (the ones where they're all in a row, and only the outside one swings away when the ball on the other side of the row swings back to its place) are kind of a metaphor for this concept of a finite amount of mental energy. Unless those balls are for conservation of motion.... it's been a long time since Physics class.
Anyway, I just got back from a great conference. The American Medical Writers' Association had its annual educational and networking extravaganza - this year, in Denver, Colorado. I got to put faces to the names of a couple virtual coworkers, and I got to catch up with a writer who has been a mentor to me as I changed careers and embarked on the medical-writing-and-editing journey.
I am an introvert. So I don't know if that means I have less energy than an extrovert, but I do know that it means that conferences are draining. Constant interaction and the dreaded "networking" are exhausting for introverts, no matter how much we may enjoy each individual interaction. So if this energy is "conserved," where does it go? I guess it goes outward, into the reminders to smile, make eye contact, and participate in conversations. It must be stored somewhere in the closed system of the conference hotel, because it comes flowing back in when we can escape upstairs to our room on breaks or at the end of the day and just.... be.... alone.
I was talking with a friend who has recently been through a divorce. We talked about how so much emotional and spiritual energy is wrapped up in just getting through each day when one is going through a huge life transition. It leaves very little left over for, say, getting the job-work done so one can pay the bills! The energy is not "depleted," per se, so much as it is "redirected." Which ends up feeling a whole lot like depletion... I experienced this when I was getting ready to change careers. I was so emotionally exhausted by the demands of my job and the constant worries and the growing knowledge that I was on the wrong path, that I had very little energy left to put into the things that really mattered - my relationship with my husband and my own mental health and physical well-being. Luckily, I woke up to this in time to make a change and to prioritize the really important things. But the energy drain (redirection?) still happens. If I am worried about work (i.e., not enough freelance projects going; oh no, I have to go to a conference and talk to people), then I have less energy for my personal relationships. I guess that's the way these things go. And hopefully, one recycles one's energy in time to reinvest in the personal.
Energy cannot be created or destroyed. It just changes form. So I guess the clicky balls were the wrong example, after all. Perhaps a phoenix rising from the ashes? That's nice and inspirational (if one ignores the hell that burning up must be...). Perhaps the chrysalis is a better example. Cheesy, yes. Overused, yes. But cliches are cliches for a reason. So chrysalis it is.
Remember to conserve your energy when needed, whether you are an introvert or simply needing a little extra energy to get through life at the moment. Your inner butterfly will thank you.
