Tolerations: The Silent Energy Drainers in Our Lives
"Do not overlook the little things, for the day you cease to attend to them is the day they start to grow and compound." – John C. Maxwell
We all have things in our lives that we “tolerate” – a cluttered office, a squeaky door, a physical symptom, a messy inbox, or unresolved tension with a colleague,. They’re the small, nagging things we “put up with” because, in the grand scheme of life, they don’t seem like a big deal. But these tolerations can come at a cost. Cumulatively, they quietly drain our energy, steal our focus, and add to the overall stress we carry.
Recently, I had a tooth filled. While that in itself may not seem like a big deal (or perhaps it does!), it was a minor procedure I had put off for years. The reasons for this are many, but one day something finally “snapped” for me when the water flosser I had become dependent on for symptom relief was not working and I realized how much of my daily life was being impacted (no pun intended) by this small gap in my teeth. In retrospect, that chip in my tooth became symbolic of all the things in my life that bother me, but not enough to do something about them. That inaction slowly chips away at my mental and emotional bandwidth, eroding any sense of control over my environment and causing unneeded frustration in my life.
Research confirms that these unresolved stressors, such as clutter, inefficiency, and unresolved conflict, no matter how minor, can cause cumulative distress and ultimately become chronic energy drains. In healthcare, where we’re already juggling high-stakes decisions and overflowing schedules, these tolerations add an unnecessary layer of mental and even emotional fatigue that can impact not only our ability to perform at our best, but also diminish our quality of life.
That chipped tooth wasn’t the only thing I was tolerating. Like many of you, I also had a backlog of unread emails, a colleague I needed to have a tough conversation with, and a growing sense of weariness from managing so many unresolved stressors. In the past few weeks when I finally started addressing some of them, beginning with having that tooth fixed, I’ve noticed an immediate sense of relief. Suddenly, I felt more in control, “lighter,” and more focused on the things that truly mattered to me. When I reflect back on the cumulative amount of emotional energy that was invested in that tooth, it is stunning – even embarrassing.
The truth is, when we allow tolerations to pile up, we unknowingly create an environment where stress thrives. By proactively identifying and eliminating these energy drains, we free up mental space and emotional energy for a more meaningful life. So what things are you tolerating? Take a moment today to reflect on the small things you’ve been putting up with, whether at work or at home. Make a list and identify one you could easily address in the next week – and repeat weekly. Ask your PeerRx partner to help hold you accountable by naming your intentions in advance. Then celebrate each small “victory.” Notice how much lighter you feel and be reminded, sometimes it’s the smallest shifts that make the biggest difference.