Imagine a cup. It does not have to be any fancy cup, just a plain cup you like to drink from. Now imagine that cup full of water. It’s a now a very useful cup. It has weight for holding the napkin in place. It can keep you and others hydrated. It can help clean up spills. It is a very handy cup to have. But as it does its filled cup things, it loses water. It probably will get a hole in it. Now the water is slowly leaking out, draining the cup of its usefulness. Our cup needs to find a source like the larger bucket, the barrel or even the faucet to refill. Once it is refilled its usefulness is restored and it can go back to doing its filled cup things again. And the cycle repeats, hopefully.
Now imagine you are the cup. You are full of energy and life, stress and worry is not a big concerns. You start helping others, giving of your time, your energy, and your love. As you do this, as you work and live, and love, your energy and compassion are drained. You give away your strength to others in need, just as the cup gives away its water. You have a “hole” through which you are draining yourself. This hole is not necessarily a bad thing, but you have to find a way to keep yourself full in order to continue to help others. If you are drained, and have no energy or compassion, even if you have the desire, how can you be truly beneficial to others?
This is when you need to find your larger bucket, the barrel or even the faucet to refill. These are the things you do for you, the things you enjoy that recharge you. It might be reading, traveling, tinkering with tools and crafts, pampering yourself or even taking a nap. Taking time for you is not a bad thing, nor is it being selfish. It is taking care of you so that you can care for others.
Every major religious figure has given us examples of doing just this. For some it is quiet time in prayer, reflection and meditation. For others it is doing what they want to do. Almost every example though is of time away from the crowds or situation that is draining them so they can focus, relax and reflect on themselves. This is not always alone time but it is “me time” for them. What is draining your cup and how can you replenish it so you can continue to water those around you?