477: EMOTIONAL EXHAUSTION

“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” —Joshua J. Marine

When you sound more like Eeyore than Tigger, it’s past time to evaluate how you are spending your energy.

Just like every other resource, your emotional energy is limited, and like time, you only have a certain amount every day. Are you investing it into things that are yielding good things, or does it seem like there’s a drain that’s sucking more than its fair share?

We’ve been there — the kids deplete our patience. The stress from our jobs can follow us around like a rain cloud. Difficult people can challenge your boundaries and leave you feeling helpless. But you’re not victims unless you let yourself be. Don’t let negativity infiltrate your marriage.  

Be aware of the messages that you are telling yourself – verbally or mentally. Things like, “This is driving me crazy”, “You’re on my last nerve”, or “I can’t take this anymore” can only send you in one direction. Once you know what you’ve been rehashing, you can make a change and break the cycle. Share these with your spouse and seek change together.

The goal isn’t to get rid of your kids — but you could change your attitude towards them.

You probably won’t retire tomorrow – but you can set healthy boundaries so that the best of you isn’t left at the office.

If you desire to have a thriving marriage that you are excited to continue, make a commitment to save your emotional energy to invest in your marriage.