And It Requires Us Sustained Energy
Hey there!
How are you?
Here, the temperatures are finally lowering, and that’s making me feel better!
Today’s article marks the end of the series about the CARE Framework. We’ll explore Engagement, its fourth area, which is all about actualizing our vision, engaging with our communities, and concretely focusing on our positive contribution.
I picture Engagement as a moment of expansion. We immerse ourselves in the act of doing, becoming more outward and action-focused while always being supported by our being.
To Flourish, We Need Strong, Nourished Roots
In our current times and Western culture, this is the most highly regarded and rewarded area of the four. The one that makes us feel productive and hence worthy (thanks capitalism!). The one, as I said in the first issue of this series, we are used to spending most of our time in.
But at this point, many of us know that staying in this area for too long is not healthy or effective. We’ve learned that the other three areas —Connection, Alignment, and Regeneration— are key to keeping us alive, well, and thriving, and tending to all four is essential to giving our lives and inner beings some harmony and integration.
Following our seed metaphor for the last time, we can imagine Engagement as the stage in which our leaf buds open completely out and our flowers bloom. We are in Summer, expanding and exploding, releasing colors and scents, and ready to go fast, drawing on our energy renewed during Spring/Regeneration and standing on our strong roots created in Connection and Alignment. (Except that it’s not what happens to me: during Summer, I succumb to heat, but that’s a story for another day, and I’m standing by my season metaphor here!).
Let’s Make Engagement Fun Again
Engagement can mean different things for each of us. Maybe we’re launching a new service or product, we are consistently publishing a newsletter or a podcast, we are engaging in organizing with our community, we are learning new skills, or we are being visible online to support our advocacy work or professional endeavors, etc.
I feel the keyword here is “relentlessly”.
We engage relentlessly with what excites us, motivates us, gives us the intellectual stimulation we crave, and makes us feel we are doing meaningful, impactful work. We envision our future, and we act to create it. That’s good, feels good, and our well-being needs it. That’s why it’s included in the areas of CARE.
I never meant to demonize Engagement, nor did I mean for the three other areas to “counterbalance” it. I’m not trying to create balance. I want us to be able to create harmony by softly moving through each area when we need to so we can have fun with Engagement and never ever burn out again!
Regenerative Impact features weekly explorations about what it means to be an entrepreneur or leader who cares to make an impact and wants to do it while feeling good and not burning out in the process.
A little backstory about CARE
At the end of August, I came back from my fake-cation (fake vacation, that’s also a story for another time), feeling not regenerated at all, and went straight into hard work mode to create and market my upcoming workshop.
I was so focused on the outcome (having people register for it) that I buried myself in a pile of tasks and ended up losing all my enthusiasm. I was tired, frustrated, confused, and probably a bit angry, too.
But I noticed, and it made all the difference.
I stopped, took a breath, and reconnected with myself.
“What do I want to experience with this workshop? And what do I want the attendees to experience? How do I want them and me to feel?” I asked myself.
It was clear the mood I was in wouldn’t have produced the hoped effects, so I took time to regenerate and then work on the thought patterns that were hindering me.
Stepping into the first three areas of CARE helped me shift my perspective and come back to Engagement (my preparation work) with renewed energy and drive.
With this series and my works, my hope is to give you the same tools so you can take care of your energy and MEFA —Make Engagement Fun Again!— anytime you need.
So, speaking about that workshop
Now, one thing you can do to MEFA is come to my Regenerative Vision Workshop on September 18th.
It will help you take stock and celebrate what you’ve done so far so you can envision and plan your next steps with renewed energy.
I’ll be there as my caring and also silly, playful self to support you throughout the process.
MEFA on your own, too
Meanwhile, I invite you to reflect on your relationship with Engagement:
How do you foster Engagement these days?
Is there anything that you’d love to do more of to support this area?
Is there anything you’d love to do less to support this area?
If you feel like it, share your reflections in the comments!
With care,
Giada
I’m eager to support you!
Hey there! I’m Giada (Jah-da, more or less), an Impact Coach dedicated to empowering values-driven, socially conscious solopreneurs, entrepreneurs, and leaders. My coaching services are tailored to help them rekindle, nurture, and amplify their impact and joy. If this speaks to you, let’s have a chat!