Right now, and in every moment before and after it, a transaction is taking place. We are either gaining energy for ourselves, or giving energy to the world. Each person, place, or thing in our lives either provides or removes that energy we have to give.
Our cup fillers and our cup suckers
Cup Filler
A cup filler leaves us feeling more inspired, excited, creative, bright, loved, loving, supported, safe, capable, bold, strong, full.
Cup Sucker
A cup sucker is the emotional and psychological vampire and vortex that makes us feel weaker, smaller, victimized, trapped, annoyed, dirty, gross, blah, claustrophobic, angry, stressed, anxious, heavy, dark, empty.
Too often we find ourselves living a +/- ratio that demands more energy than it replenishes. As the cup starts to dip below the halfway point, our battery less than half charged, tension begins to form, then tightening to stress. The grip of stress then adds layers of worry and anxiety, accelerating the loss of what energy we have left. Eventually our straw starts making that slurping sucking noise of reaching the bottom of the cup and not finding any energy left to consume. Fatigue sets in. Exhaustion. And finally, depression.
To maintain being a light in this world, a care taker and giver, as it shows on an airplane's emergency card, we need to put on our oxygen mask for ourselves first, before we can help and save anyone or anything else.
We need to cure the cause of the sickness and stop just distracting and numbing our symptoms
IMPROVE THE +/- RATIO
At least one of a few things needs to happen to cure the cause and improve the ratio:
This means purging certain items we own or surround ourselves with. Moving environments and changing scenery. Ending toxic relationships with family, friends, or partners, romantically or professionally.
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Cut out the cup suckers
Take more trips. Own and use only what is life enabling. Form new relationships or spend more time with those that lift you up. Be reminded of how truly awesome you are and how amazing it is we have this opportunity to even just be here to experience being alive, conscious, and living.
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Surround yourself with more cup fillers
Learn to not take other people's insecurities, fears, and judgments personal, even if directed at you. They are never about you. Learn to see that they come from their own places of pain and struggle, gasping to have their own needs met. Stop trying to fix things and getting so emotionally connected to negativity. Breathe slower, deeper, and more rhythmically. Keep smiling.
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Protect yourself with better armor
We fall into our own traps, making it both more difficult on others, and even more so difficult for us. Change your perspective. React and respond only with encouragement, excitement, and love, whether or not you believe anyone or anything else deserves it. Understand and have faith that Life's sole intention and purpose is to magnify and grow Life, so not only will Life provide to meet your needs, but that everything that has happened and that will happen, is truly a gift, even if the wrapping on the box appears too horrific to look at and uncomfortable or painful to touch.
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Stop being a cup sucker
Fun Exercise
After each interaction with a person, your environment, or using an object, take a breath then slap a mental sticker on them that is either a - or +.
You will start to notice trends of what is adding and removing energy from you.
Having awareness gives you clarity and courage to make decisions to improve the health of your cup.
That said, I want to take a moment to just share that being here in Bali, from each warm smile, acknowledging head nod and comfortable eye contact. To the savory, sweet, and nourishing foods. The immensely vivid color palettes and the exquisite attention to detail in everything. The bustling ecosystem and cohabitation of living creatures and organisms. The love of beauty and richness in sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste, and sense. The low cost and ease of access to health and wellness in yoga, massages, skin treatments, spirit and energy work. The clear headedness and surprising amount of focus and productivity. The Unsettled family forming and creating space for each other... this place is an abundant cup filler and I am deeply grateful for this blessing to receive participate.
Thank you for reading. :)
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During this whole trip in SE Asia, I'm sharing many of the little moments in my Instagram Stories: @KyleKesterson. Follow & interact!