Estimated reading time: 4 minutes, 47 seconds
You can’t give what you don’t have.
Generosity without replenishment becomes exhaustion.
Fill your cup - so you can overflow, not run dry.
Here’s a visual to complement today’s wisdom:
You likely have people that depend on you: friends, family, colleagues.
You cannot give them the love and support they deserve if your are depleted, so make sure you’re receiving love and support too.
Here’s some timeless wisdom, courtesy of a Roman poet:
Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.
When you step back and replenish, you don’t lose ground - you strengthen your roots.
Rest isn’t the opposite of growth. It’s what makes it possible.
It’s easy to pour yourself out for others, especially for those that you deeply care about.
You show up, you help, and you give, but over time, that constant outflow can quietly drain you.
And when you ignore the signs of depletion, your giving begins to suffer.
Self-care isn’t selfish - it is sensible. It protects your ability to serve well.
You can only sustain what you consistently refill.
When your own needs are met, generosity flows from abundance, not obligation.
Here are 3 ways to keep your cup full while still showing up for others:
Schedule regular refills.
Don’t wait until burnout forces you to stop.
Plan rest, reflection, and solitude into your rhythm - not as recovery, but as prevention.
Accept care as readily as you give it.
Let people support you too.
Receiving doesn’t make you weak - it makes your relationships more mutual and real.
Always give when overflowing, never when empty.
If helping starts to feel heavy or draining, pause.
Refill first so what you give comes from love, not obligation.
Let’s dive deeper into today’s wisdom with these 3 journal prompts:
Where am I currently giving more than I’m receiving?
What practices truly refill me - and how often do I make time for them?
Who could I allow to care for me this week?
Today’s resource is a wise one: The Road Back to You by Suzanne Stabile & Ian Morgan Cron.
This insightful guide to the Enneagram helps you understand why you think, feel, and act the way you do - especially in your relationships with others.
As someone who identifies as a Type 2 (The Helper), I’ve found this book deeply grounding. It’s helped me recognise how my instinct to serve others can be both a strength and a struggle - and how to give from a place of health, not exhaustion.
By learning what you look like when you’re stressed or thriving, you can find a rhythm of giving that’s generous and sustainable too.
Learn more about this transformative book here:
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Thanks,
Michael