When the Tank is Full: Stewarding a Season of Spiritual Buoyancy 

At Verve Lead, we spend a lot of time exploring the less buoyant phases of life; the times where the tank is low, energy and resilience are drained and our emotional, physical and spiritual worlds are lacking. 

We use the buoyancy gauge as a way to check our resilience and energy:

• 0/10 – Emotionally empty… wants to stay in bed all day
• 2/10 – Sinking with no strength to fight
• 4/10 – Short on air, not sustainable, could go either way
• 6/10 – Some resilience, but one crisis and I will go under
• 8/10 – Enjoying life with some energy to help others
• 10/10 – Full of energy for life, love and ready to bring change in/for others

The first few phases are difficult and can lead to serious ramifications in life, professionally and personally. When a person is between a 0 and a 6, it is time to focus on the self; regain a balance in life and find joy, peace and vigor. In these times, we are putting on our oxygen masks before helping the people around us; trying to ensure our own health so that we can help others in the future. 

A Season of Thriving

But what about the other end of the spectrum? What do we do when we are thriving? 

When our tank is full, especially after periods of struggling to keep our head above water, it can feel natural to want to keep all that renewed energy for ourselves; to just enjoy the peace that comes with full margins. Sometimes, we are still in self-preservation mode, used to saving all energy just to keep going and afraid of sliding back into a sense of deprivation. It’s normal to feel uneasy when things are finally going well, but consider this; we have worked hard to reach this level of buoyancy by making changes, setting boundaries, having difficult conversations, discovering what replenishes us and finding some transformation. Celebrate this! When we are thriving, celebrate with gratitude and enjoy the abundant life Jesus desires for all of us. Have faith in Him to release you from the fear of falling back into the old patterns.

Thriving isn’t just for ourselves

As Christian leaders, we also need to remember the goal of health is not for just ourselves, but for those around us. Thriving means we are finally in the place where we have the bandwidth to make a difference in our communities. That had been the goal all along! This is a great time to revisit what we want to accomplish, who we want to connect with, and where we can give our new-found energy. 

It is also important to remember that buoyancy is a balancing act and our vitality is something that needs to be continually maintained. Just because we have energy now to pursue bigger goals and to care for others doesn’t mean we can neglect our own well-being. Forgetting to take time to rest, reflect and replenish will just deplete us until we are back at zero. So take this time to review your life. 

• Who are you spending time with? Are you managing any toxic relationships? 
• What holes are in the emotional tank? What can repair them? 
• Are you still managing finances well? Living within your means and dealing with any debt?
• Are you caring for yourself physically? Exercising, sleeping, eating well?
• Are you caring for yourself emotionally? Spending time with loved ones? Pursuing replenishing hobbies?
• Who is helping you deal with deep-rooted issues? (Being in a stable place is a wonderful time to work through past trauma; it’s a safe time to grief, forgive and focus on healing.)

We have a natural desire to make a difference, there is an innate part of ourselves made in the image of God that wants to help others. Just because we are feeling good, doesn’t mean the work is over; just that a different, less draining and more fulfilling work can begin!

Reflection:

What has it taken to get to this place? What are you doing right? 

Is there anything you can you pass on to those around you?

What are your goals? How will you use your energy? 

What needs to happen within your community?