You can tick off your to-do list, show up to all the meetings, smile at the right moments, even get a full night’s sleep . . . and still feel completely drained.
That kind of exhaustion is not always about doing too much.
It is often about leaking energy, subtly and silently, in how we think, how we react, how we avoid, how we take things on that are not ours to carry, or how we fail to act when we could.
Energy slips through the cracks of our everyday behaviour — in our heads, in our hearts, in our bodies and in our relationships.
We lose energy when we say yes when we mean no.
When we stew on things but do not speak up.
When we blame others instead of owning what is ours.
When we replay a conversation from yesterday while trying to stay present with someone today.
...and most of us are leaking more than we realise.
Let me share a real moment.
Recently, during a team meeting, one of my team mates flagged a concern raised by someone we work closely with outside our core team, someone I really appreciate and value. The moment they brought it up, I felt an instant wave of irritation and stopped them mid-sentence. I said they should not have discussed it with her because I was already aware of it.
And that was true - I had spoken to them about it some time ago, and I had agreed to take action, but life had been full on, both professionally and privately, and I had not got round to following through.
So what happened in that meeting was not about my team mate, it was my shadow side flaring up. I was annoyed at myself for not having resolved the issue, and I projected that frustration straight onto them.
The meeting moved on, but the atmosphere had shifted. I knew I had left my team mates behind with an uneasy feeling. That is what happens when frustration spills out unchecked. It creates subtle fractures in trust, in connection, in energy.
As soon as the meeting ended, I paused and did some serious Accounting (for those of you familiar with Functional Fluency, you will know what I mean) and looked at what had really gone on. The facts, my feelings, my part in it. I realised how unfair I had been, and how easy it is to let internal pressure leak out as blame.
I got in touch with my team mates and apologised. I also explained what had been going on for me. Not as an excuse, but as part of owning it, and because of that honest reflection and direct repair, I was able to quickly close the energy leak.
What could have turned into lingering tension, or a relational crack simply dissolved. The connection was restored, and I could move forward without dragging that heaviness behind me.
This is not about pretending life is easy, or that frustration is not valid - it is. Sometimes, it is a sign something needs attention, but there is a difference between processing and feeding.
And that is where the shift begins.
Ask yourself: Am I energising frustration, or am I fuelling transformation?
In other words:
When we learn to pause and redirect our energy, even just slightly, we stop reacting automatically. We step into the driver’s seat again. Not to control everything (we cannot), but to influence what we can. Ourselves, our choices, our behaviour, our attitude.
In my work, and in all realms of my life, I use Functional Fluency, and I know many of you reading this have already learned about it too, but here is the real question: Are you actually integrating it into your daily life?
Not just understanding it in theory, but using it as a lens when things get messy, heated, or overwhelming? Because I can tell you, it helps me recognise where my energy is going, and whether I am using it effectively or just reacting out of habit.
It reminds me that I do have a choice in how I respond.
It reminds me that I can shift from automatic to intentional and from draining patterns to behaviours that actually work.
You are not a machine. You are a living, breathing human with limited daily energy. Where you direct that energy determines how you feel, how you lead, how you connect with others, and what you get done.
So next time you feel your energy dipping, ask yourself:
Even pausing to ask the question changes the dynamic. Awareness cracks open possibility, and that is where the magic starts.
Because life is too short to waste energy on what drains you, when you have the power to redirect it towards what lifts you, grows you, and brings you home to yourself.
If this resonates with you and you would love to stay connected, inspired, and supported as you explore how to live and lead with more intentionality, we would love to welcome you into our Functional Fluency WhatsApp community.
Yes, even if you have already trained with us.
Because let’s be honest, knowing about Functional Fluency and actually integrating it into the messy, beautiful reality of daily life . . .those are two different things.
So, if your life is a smooth, ever flowing stream of grounded decisions, joyful boundaries, and perfectly attuned responses, then this probably is not for you (and also, please share your secrets!)
But if, like most of us, you sometimes feel your energy leaking out through old patterns, emotional clutter, or good intentions left on the shelf, then come and spend some time with us.
It is a safe, friendly space for thoughtful, curious people who want to grow, stay awake, share insights, and keep the energy flowing in the right direction, together.
[Click here to join the community]
(or drop me a message if you would like to know more first)
Because Functional Fluency in action is a practice, not a certificate.
Love, Leona x
