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WITI PERSONAL GROWTH
Your Unique Energy Patterns and Your Career Success
In most modern personality typologies, such as Myers-Briggs’ or David Keirsey’s system, or Enneagram, mental emotional patterns of a person are presented without any reference to the temporal aspect, the way her/his energy changes through weeks, months, and years. This is why I particular like the typology introduced by Dr. Joseph Michael Levry. It has been used by thousands of his students throughout the world. The one thing I’ve noticed about his system is: unlike those who have done their Myers-Briggs assessment, people who use Dr. Levry’s system are often found enthusiastically discussing their own or their friends’ energy patterns. It is evident that they are actively using the system, not just get it done and put it in the drawer. I also find it very helpful in my coaching work. It makes clients aware of how their energy ebbs and flows in a weekly, annual and a ten-year cycle. With this knowledge you no longer expect your energy to have the same momentum every day, but allow it to rise and fall dynamically. Moreover, once you see your own pattern, you can make plans according to the tidal waves of your energy. By doing so, you can avoid frustration by working with, not against, the natural tendencies of your own energy. Although I need to work with a person individually to help her/him understand their own patterns, the unique quirks and twists, you can benefit by simply paying attention to how your energy changes. As far as the weekly pattern goes, you can use a calendar to note down the following:
2) Which day(s) of the week your energy tends to dip consistently, even without you doing anything unusually strenuous. You might also have a tendency to feel exhausted, or even depressed. Once you’ve noticed the pattern, allow yourself a little extra rest, and some inner reflection on these days. Lows points in life come to teach us important lessons. By taking a humble attitude, instead of resisting it, you can learn from and get out of it faster. Also, once the rest and reflection become part of your schedule, you will no longer feel guilty for not pushing yourself hard enough, which NEVER helps in any way. Needlessly to say, try not to schedule important work on these days. 3) Which day(s) of the week you become more extroverted (relatively speaking) and feel like communicating with people. These are the networking days. 4) Which days of the week you become more introverted and feel like being alone and contemplative. Avoid too much socializing on these days if possible. Once you are done with the weekly cycle, try the annual cycle:
2) which months of the year do you tend to feel low in both physical energy and in spirit? Keep in mind “low” does not mean bad. There are benefits for going low for a while, especially if you allow yourself some rest and contemplation. 3) which months do you tend to feel more extraverted and want to socialize? Reconnect with your contacts during this period. 4) which months do you tend to feel more introverted and want to be left alone, think about things, and maybe do some writing?
2) are there years when you seem to be swimming against the flow, every inch forward takes ten times more energy than usual? 3) are there years when your work gets richly rewarded? 4) are there years when you tend to go through drastic changes? You will also know when pushing yourself hard means progress and when it means futility and frustration. So catch the wind when it is blowing in your direction. And if you are not high-spirited every day, there is no need to beat yourself up: it is just that mysterious movement called “life.” Studies have shown that even in women who have suffered from depression for many years, the very act of allowing can help releasing it. By allowing and learning from both the high and the low points, every part of life makes sense. As a result the energy wasted in many negative patterns can be re-channeled towards effective action. In short, once you’ve figured out your own energy patterns, you can not only “go with the flow” but also consciously make use of the tidal waves to “ride the flow.” You will get more fun out of both work and life.
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