You Can't Pour From an Empty Cup

By Anonymous -
Consider your life. 
Consider your state of mind.  
Consider your sisterhood and your position as a leader.  

There is excitement going into a new year, absolutely.  A fresh start. An opportunity to either build on the excitement from the previous year, or maybe it’s an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and build something brand new after a tumultuous year.   

Either way, whether your chapter is coming from a positive or negative place, one thing is certain:  you as a leader will face trials during this next academic year. (Wait, Magen, this is supposed to be a positive, encouraging word to start our group training… WHY are you being so pessimistic?!)   Let’s not call it pessimism, let’s call it realism. The reality is, and trust me, I’ve been doing this long enough to know, when you get a group of women together there will be conflict. It’s “when,” not “if.”  End scene, on to Act 2.   

So, knowing that you will face obstacles this year, what can you do to equip and prepare yourself to handle these moments as a leader?  
  • Pour positivity into the sisterhood, no matter what.
    • Do not contribute to the negative energy
    • Validate, but do not encourage negative feelings.
    • Redirect.   When something turns south, redirect the people involved. 
  • Seek first the Kingdom of God.  
    • Pray.
    • Read the Word.
    • Set the example.
  • Seek Council.  
    • Use your mentor.
    • Use your advisor.
    • Use your fellow chapter leaders.

Being diligent and constant in these things takes great effort.   It is hard work managing a group of women. If you are not careful, you can run out of fuel as a leader.   You must find ways to keep your cup full, so that you can pour out into those you are called to lead.   

If you are not filling up your cup, you will not be able to keep up with the three steps, and sub-steps above.  YOU CANNOT POUR FROM AN EMPTY CUP.   

Let me say it again.   You. Cannot. Pour. From. An. Empty. Cup. 

So, figure out what fills you up and makes your cup overflow as a leader.   Ask yourself:

🡪 What blesses you above all else?
🡪 What gives you energy?
🡪 Why did you become a leader in the first place?  (And how can you hold on to that “why?”)
🡪 Who, in your life, fills you up?   

I want you to spend 2-4 minutes meditating on these questions and write them down.   

Now, here’s the important part.   Make sure you find time to integrate these things into your daily life.   AND, when you’re feeling spent, exhausted, and like you cannot possibly pour into one more person, problem, or issue as a leader, check yourself.   Are you keeping your own cup overflowing?

-Magen

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