Empty Tank Syndrome

While everyone seems to be stressing and freaking out about the price of gas and needing to refuel their vehicles, I wonder how many people think about refueling their own personal tank?

This is a much more stressful and time consuming process than going to the pump and pulling a handle. If only we could go somewhere that would refuel our personal tanks back to full.

Empty is never a good place to be. Empty is a dangerous place. In my experience, it can lead to a few things:

1) Empty leads to a place of doubt

2) Empty leads to a place of self destruction

3) Empty can lead to a place of stubbornness

4) Empty can lead to a place of solitude

5) Empty leads to a place of no energy

There is probably much more that Empty can lead, but in my life these are the places that it has lead me.

Unfortunately, I am there.

I feel empty. My tank is at empty and it is screaming at me.

It’s ironic however coming off of an incredible experience with 8 students and 2 other adults. The Dominican Republic was absolutely incredible but for some reason my tank is empty. In my character, there is a desire and need to be full. Maybe that is what it is for everyone. The hard part is finding how to refuel yourself.

I have learned that there is a few things that help me refuel my tank:

The Big One: I know this may seem cliche for a relational person to say, but I need to have devotion time. If there is one thing that I want to change in my life, it is the dedication that I give to reading, journaling and writing. Most of the time in my own tank, I can tell when I get close to empty and that is because I haven’t read, journaled or wrote for a while. I am reading a book called the Furious Longing of God by Brennan Manning and there is a click going off in my mind that is starting to make more and more sense. God longs for a relationship with all of his children, but in order for a relationship to work and flourish it takes 2 to tango. If I am not doing my part in my relationship with God, then how do I ever expect the relationship to grow? I have learned that I need to spend time on my relationship with God and really make it a priority in my life above anything else. However it needs to happen, it needs to happen.

1) Conversation: I am a relational guy. I love to talk to people, I love to talk with people I know and also people that I dont know. Conversation fuels energy in my life. Conversation is a good way for myself to learn, guide, help and listen. All which are different ways for me to refuel. The problem is when my tank is empty I tend to talk a lot and miss out on the listening part.

2) Family: My wife is a huge a proponent of us time. There are times in my life that I feel like it is annoying and times when I understand. When my tank runs dry, time with my wife just seems about the only thing that I want to do. Not only do I want to be with Amanda, I want to see my family. Family in mind can mean lots of different thins. There is my family: Brent, Kay, Ben, Katie, Zac, Keenan, Kyrin, Jim, Becky and Caylie(o, and…. Roxy-Becky’s dog). I love every time I am able to be with any of these people.

3) Friends: A little bit of an extension of family, but almost all of my friends I consider to be part of my family. Being able to see and hang out with my friends and just do life for a little while with them is incredible.

4) Golf/Ultimate/Soccer/Baseball: I am a sportsaholic. Done. I have confessed about my addiction to sports and to be honest, I am perfectly ok with it. Doing something physical for me is like crack. I feed off a good game of golf or maybe a bad game of golf on a beautiful course. Being outside and playing is a huge part of my refueling.

Refueling is definitely not an easy process. It is one that takes time and takes strength. It is one thing in life is needed every so often and it is one that can determine your leadership capabilities.

How do you overcome the empty tank? What has worked for you in the past?