Juggling the Circus of Life
“Keep the circus going inside you, keep it going, don’t take anything too seriously, it’ll all work out in the end.” —David Niven
Being a one-woman show (single mom, entrepreneur, and career woman) is overwhelming at times. When only one person controls all the things, it gets hard sometimes to keep moving, much less moving forward. Taking care of yourself, being realistic about your schedule, and saying “no” to things means it is still hard but also does not feel crushingly impossible.
Many of us single pringles have to do it all. Even if we have an amazing support system, they don’t always do things for us outside of encouragement. Don’t get me wrong, that is epically priceless! But at the end of the day, the house still needs to be cleaned, food prepared, and people/pet needs have to be met.
That means we must figure out how to run this circus called life -
either magical and exciting, or chaotic and gone before we know it.
How did we become the ringmaster of the greatest show on Earth (our life)?
Some of us added clowns and animals (kids and pets), we set up too many tents to house attractions that show at the same time (scheduled obligations), then sat out at a breakneck speed to make it all happen.
Sometimes I just want to be a mere circus performer instead of the ringmaster…but after some research, I realized they do a lot of the same things.
Per CareerExplorer.com:
Circus performers thrive on the adrenaline rush of dazzling and amazing a live audience… a circus performer must have unusual entertainment skills, such as acrobatics or juggling, and will perform using one, or a combination of these skills.
When I think of the circus, clowns and acrobats are the first things to come to my mind. I won’t talk about clowns since I know so many people fear them. I’ll focus on acrobatics since I feel like I’m constantly performing crazy moves with the cats underfoot and catching beads before they hit the floor. I often wonder how those reflexes would have served me in other positions and circumstances (like actually joining the circus!).
Balance, agility, and performance skills are more than just physical skills one needs for the “high wire” of life. Not sure if your life requires these things? If you work in a corporate office, are an entrepreneur, or are a stay-at-home parent, yes, these are things you need to perform at your best every single day.
These skills also apply to other aspects of your life such as hosting parties, selling things that our kids bring home for school fundraisers, home projects, and the list goes on.
Who isn’t in awe of a great juggling act?
Those watching the act have a different perspective for sure rather than those juggling.
The circus, much like life, proves juggling is done with way more things than actual objects.
Schedules and desires are things we manage every day. If your life is anything like mine, you are already running around half crazy trying to get everyone where they need to be and do all the things that need to be done.
We (those of us that identify as people pleasers) tend to take on others' schedules. Trust me, that usually adds more stress or takes away an opportunity to fulfill your desires…like attending every event in a week, or a night, to make others happy.
Now, don’t get me wrong, supporting others that support you is necessary but you can do that without attending every event if it means you are giving up other important things. There are several “lists” that circulate this time of year for small business owners. It is also accurate for your performing friends.
There are ways to run the circus effectively.
Make the Greatest Show on Earth Your Life!
Plan your goals for the day with realistic expectations. Experts say no more than 3 “must accomplish” items per day.
Include sleep, self-care, and meals in the 24 hours on your calendar, not just work and production goals.
Leave wiggle room for unexpected changes to happen. With kids, we know that typically happens a lot.
Say no! Don’t overload your calendar with fun or you will end up chastising yourself for not getting things done. Balance is necessary.
Remember, life is about having fun between graduation and the grave. It’s not just for kids.
Take care of yourself, my friend. You need rest to stay sharp, so make sure you get it.
Otherwise, you will trip over the cat because you were too tired to open your eyes to see it and balance can’t save you.
I would love for you to follow me on Instagram to see how I’m Pattoning my Passionate Life.
Peace and love,
Teresea
