The Real Problem With Exhaustion That We Don’t Talk About

Most of us think exhaustion just means we need more sleep. But the real cost of being drained is that we lose our ability to connect. Real relationships require an attention span and an inner reserve that exhaustion simply steals away. We spend our energy on agendas and accomplishments, but at the end of the day, we find ourselves alone.

If you want more love in your life, you must first reclaim your energy.

Transcript

Why is it scary that we're all in a state of exhaustion?

95% of people,

Including very successful people,

Are in a state of exhaustion.

In a state of exhaustion,

You can't build real relationships.

You don't have the attention span,

You don't have the inner resource to build relationships or deepen relationships or grow relationships.

When you're exhausted,

You don't even have energy for yourself.

So sometimes I have people coming to me and are like,

Elizabeth,

I want to build beautiful relationships.

I want to build self-compassion.

And I say,

No,

First spend three days in the state of a vegetable,

Be an eggplant on the couch.

In three days,

Let's talk.

And in three days,

You'll be less exhausted.

Don't do anything for three days.

So doing nothing,

It feels like is the ultimate sin.

There's so much to do.

There's so much things to watch,

Things to experience.

Doing nothing builds the capacity to connect.

Out of nothingness and stillness comes real,

Deep,

Lasting,

Enduring connection.

Spend one day a week off devices,

Doing whatever you feel like with no agenda.

But it's those tasks that are to-do lists,

Agendas that drain so much energy.

And the result is that we have things,

We have accomplishments,

We don't have love and connection in our life.

And what I wish for you is love and connection.