If You Don’t FEEL Well, Can You Truly Make a Difference?

What happens when you don’t feel well?

Is it hard to function as your most authentic, influential, and powerful self? Do you struggle to stand for what you believe is right or to engage in meaningful work that makes a difference?

Your feelings are crucial to your influence and impact — especially if you’re a change-maker or a leader.

When you’re not feeling your best, your ability to tackle the problems or challenges you care about is diminished.

Understanding FEEL: Freedom, Energy, Enthusiasm, Love

FEEL is an acronym that encapsulates four vital elements of your well-being. When you FEEL well, you experience:

• Freedom from restrictions and stress
• A natural abundance of Energy
• Enthusiasm for what you’re doing
• Love in its many forms

If you’re inspired to make a difference in the world, not feeling well impedes your ability to do so effectively.

However, when you’re at your best and FEEL well, you can stand up courageously and proudly for what you know is right — and support a common humanity of dignity and equity.

How do you want to FEEL when you’re making a difference?

Let’s explore how Freedom, Energy, Enthusiasm, and Love empower your ability to make a difference.

FREEDOM — “Cause you're free to do what you want to do.” 🎵

Freedom is the ability to choose and the means to act on your choices.

It’s also a state of mind — living without oppression, expressing yourself authentically, and being true to who you are.

ENERGY — “I’ve got the power!” 🎵

Understanding how to manage and optimize your energy during the day (week and month) is crucial. It can be the difference between burning out early or being highly productive throughout the day.

Recognizing what depletes and nurtures your energy allows you to design your day around tasks that align with your energy levels, preventing burnout and enhancing efficiency.

ENTHUSIASM — The energy multiplier.

Enthusiasm is about living life fully, doing what’s meaningful and fulfilling, and being your best self.

Operating from a place of enthusiasm is like using energy-efficient tools — you achieve more with less effort. Enthusiasm supports efficient productivity, allowing you to accomplish more without burning out.

LOVE — “What’s love got to do with it?” 🎵

When you feel love, you tap into your capacity for acceptance, connection, and care — both for yourself and others.

Love opens the door to understanding and compassion, enabling you to practice open-hearted reasoning and recognize the value and dignity of others. It’s a pathway to humility, gratitude, and meaningful connections.

The impact of not feeling well

Consider how not feeling well affects you. Maybe you didn’t sleep well and feel exhausted. Or perhaps you had a conflict, lost a client, or faced a significant setback.

In the case of poor sleep, your physical and cognitive abilities are compromised. Decision-making and problem-solving become more difficult, and your ability to think clearly is diminished.

In more extreme cases, such as an argument or job loss, your stress levels skyrocket, triggering feelings of threat, insecurity, and fear. These emotions can severely impair your logical thinking, emotional well-being, and peace of mind.

What Holds You Back from Making a Difference?

What small, immediate action can you take right now to start feeling better?

Identifying and addressing these barriers is the first step toward reclaiming your ability to make a meaningful impact.

Let me know how you FEEL in the comments! :-)