An alternative approach for times when finding our way and contributing to the world as we want to (let alone trying to manage our own lives ๐ฌ) has gotten tough... We're simply out of steam ๐ฎโ๐จ. The Capacity Generator is a journaling-style tool that has helped a lot of good folks re-build their capacity. Sometimes from scratch.
“I can't remember a time when I have felt so excited and proactive.” ~ Hollie, Canada
Hiya friend,
There are times in life, I think for most of us, when we just can't seem to find the bloody energy to get going, to pick up the torch - even though we really want to.
We're out of steam.
I've noticed in my work that this feeling is especially common amongst folks who have big dreams, a strong sense of purpose, and a deep care for their community and the world at large. They have a burning desire to make a unique contribution, but may find themselves struggling with a lack of energy and motivation.
If we're in situations like this, life can feel heavy, and everything takes more effort. It's like we're constantly spinning our wheels, or trying to fight a current, without getting anywhere. It can also be very isolating.
We're smart as heck, and we know something’s amiss, so we take stock:
So… We survive. We get up every day, and we still try. We gamely try. We’re indomitable that way, we never give up.
We feel - and this is the most important thing on this whole page - we feel... deep down, that we WILL crack this somehow. We know it. Somehow...
We don’t give up trying to find ‘some wedge of light’ somewhere – a book, an idea, a ‘sudden change inside’ that will release us from the prison.
But holy geez. If you're anything like I was... months go by, perhaps years… and still… staring at the computer screen… thinking…
One of my most favourite people on the planet - an old and dear friend (and a periodic wonderful client who did this Capacity Generator journaling process with me) bravely shared with me a list of words that described how she felt on Day 1 when she started this CapGen process, and then again on Day 15:
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“How I feel beginning (Day 1):
feelings of being overwhelmed, fear, anxiety, helplessness, darkness, depressed, low self-worth, lacking in self-confidence, adrift, directionless, no ability to focus, invisible, feeling incapacitated, hopeless, despair, lack of faith in myself."
โ"How things feel now (Day 15):
relief, becoming unblocked, opening up, sense of movement and direction, no longer in a place of isolation, empowerment, growing confidence, reassurance, validation, sense of self-worth, perking up, calmer, like a weight has lifted off my chest, happier, better with trying situations, happier in my skin, writing this exercise is helping me to notice, accept, understand, and let go, sparkly, colourful, hope, kinder to myself and others, excitement, MORE ENERGY!”
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This change she created for herself came from writing 25 lines or more per day, for two weeks, in her 'CapGen' journal.
This process has been such an energy-refresher for many folks who need a boost, and put in the work to try it out. It looks a bit like gratitude, a bit like affirmations, but the strategy underpinning these simple lines is far more sophisticated from an energy point of view.
"My life is coming back. I was flattened by a steamroller and this is getting me back under way. After day four I was getting up earlier and ready to feel good. I really needed to hear your message. It was spot on… I was stalled and needed something to get me going again. Thank you so much.” Heather, Canada
A particular morning stands out vividly in my memory as one of the turning points in my life. It was about eight years ago, and I was going through a severe burnout that left me feeling incapacitated. I struggled to communicate with anyone outside my home, and even simple tasks felt overwhelming. This led to me failing in my work obligations and responsibilities, my self-employed income drying up as a result, and feeling like a failure to my family.
Despite having amassed an impressive healing toolbox of meditation, energy healing, great supporters, and even therapists in my life, nothing seemed to make a difference to this situation - until that morning.
I remember staring at my computer, feeling helpless and wishing I could restart my work on my beloved business - my Big Dream Program. I longed to connect with others but found myself unable to, or even say ‘sorry’ properly to those I’d let down, because I didn't know if I could live up to any promises to make amends.
I had nothing left in the tank. I found myself thinking…
And then it happened...
The thing that changed everything. It was – simply a thought. It appeared out of the gloom like a bird who fluttered into my mind:
‘I do have enough capacity to brush my teeth.’
The thought, small as it was, stopped me cold. I had indeed brushed my teeth an hour earlier.
Then, minutes later, another thought fluttered in as I sipped my tea…
‘I do have enough capacity to make a tea’.
Then a third thought:
‘Although I don’t have the capacity to email anyone, I do have the capacity to stand up and stretch’.
That moment, that morning, the state I was in began to turn around.
And, I started making a list of these thoughts.
By the end of that day I’d made a list of at least a hundred small things I'd had the capacity to do and I could feel deep down that ‘something was definitely shifting’ as I was doing so. It was having an effect. I couldn't accomplish much else in those days, so I kept writing. What could it hurt, at this point?
Day after day, I dug out my journal and wrote lines like this.
It would take me a few more weeks than my client years later because of techniques I would later learn and you will find in this CapGen kit, but my strength was noticeably returning every day I did this. I began to feel hope again. It was like physiotherapy for my mind, and it was working.
And it is one of the things I am most grateful to have learned, and be able to share ever since, in my whole life.
When it helped me get back to work – I started sharing it with friends and clients...
"I highly recommend this 10-day journey. I found myself surprised by the potency of these exercises & their ability to transform the tangled knots inside of my heart and head."
"The experience you have provided has really, and I mean REALLY, helped me. My brain is buzzing. I can't remember a time when I have felt so excited and proactive. For the first time ever, I have found a system of journalling to move away from my depression and anxiety that works for me. I hate journalling! But the bites you encourage me to take are so small and yet so significant. Thank you, thank you, thank you! "
"The Capacity Generator is a very different self-help approach. By observing simple things, we notice what weโre taking for granted, begin to realize our strengths, and make small changes that can add up to big gains over time. Alexโs warmth, encouragement, and genuine relatability come through in his videos and his writing. In fact, on Day 2 of the experience, I wrote in my CapGen journal that โI have more than enough capacity to recognize a great teacher. <3"
What we learned together is that when a person plugged specific words into the CapGen journaling exercise, in a certain sequence, it would often result in increased strength, confidence, peace, lightness.
We also learned: the same approach could be used to nourish and enhance any quality that we desire - anything from overcoming depression or burnout, to improving our relationships, to being better in our work.
We can come back stronger than before, with more to offer.
“It helped me to feel really good about myself.” ~ Bonnie, Canada
“I am so much more positive.” ~ Hollie, Canada
“I feel stronger and more grounded. More confident about trying something new.” ~ Joyce in USA.
“I stopped doing the [CapGen] after a few days because I naturally had enough capacity to get traction on the projects that were in front of me that needed attention but I was previously feeling heavy about (not quite overwhelmed, but awfully close)” ~ Matt, Canada
Get your CapGen Video eKit here...
This eKit has been developed over years, hundreds of hours, and close to 100,000 journal lines, by myself and the early trailblazers of this program. It changed our lives, and we're excited to make it available for others.
If this sounds interesting to you, I'll see you on the inside!
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Alex
I have done this work for years with private clients, alongside my life-direction coaching, and before I had this eKit available it took at least $1000 worth of 1on1 time to do this.
The eKit now makes this work far more accessible for folks who’d prefer to do it on their own.
If this all resonates, and you'd like to try it, then I'll see you on the inside :)
๐
Alex Baisley
From Sharon in Ontario:
"[Alex has] stumbled on a profound principle of emotional rewiring only now coming to light in the psychological literature. And better, he’s built a simple, self guided, affordable, program around it that can create some real change in how you think and feel about yourself.
I’ve been in the coaching, neuro-leadership and emotional intelligence biz for 20 years. I’ve taken a ridiculous number of programs. I’m kind of hard to please when it comes to development. But I can say this about the Capacity Generator Program: This is exactly the kind of intervention that sticks and has a powerful, lasting impact. Simple, well designed, eminently do-able, it just works. Treat yourself. You won’t regret it."
Before: “I remember how I felt before starting this program. I was hyper critical of everything I was doing, second guessing so much of my work. It got to a point, right before starting CapGen, that I was so scared of doing things wrong that I actually ended up overthinking projects at work and sabotaged myself. I had no motivation to pursue the hobbies I loved, or to cook meals every day. It was a struggle for me to keep any kind of routine."
2.5 weeks later: "Fast forward to last week, the first week after CapGen wrapped up. I went into work feeling like someone else had taken over. I stopped questioning what I was doing, if it was right, if I’d be critiqued, or if someone would think I’m less than for not being 100% right. Little inconveniences rolled off my shoulders and I was able to keep a level head the whole week. No extra stress that usually drained me and left me exhausted and ready for bed before 6pm. I realized I had time and energy to spend on my hobbies. I felt so much stronger and confident in myself…I hadn’t felt this way in a long time."