Why You Have So Much Energy Some Days (and None the Next)

Do you ever have days where you’re absolutely on fire…
…and other days where the clock is moving soooooo sloooooowly?

Yes, it could be the 2 hours of sleep you got last night.
Or the pancakes you had for breakfast. (No judgment.)

But I think there’s something else going on underneath.

Today kicks off a topic I am SO passionate about that I’m fairly certain I’ve annoyed my family, friends, and possibly a few unsuspecting strangers talking about it.

Totally worth it. (Sorry, peeps.)

Because this? This is just SO freaking cool.

Before I dive in, here’s why this matters—especially in the work I do around boundaries and relationships:

It all comes down to your energy.

Not the woo-woo kind (although, you know I love that, too 😉)… I mean the real-life kind.

Why am I exhausted at 10am?
How did I do 18 things today and still feel amazing?
Why does this one task feel like pulling teeth?

This framework helps you see where your energy naturally flows, where it quietly leaks, and why certain things light you up… while others drain you fast.

So… what are we talking about?

The Six Types of Working Genius
(created by Patrick Lencioni)

(And yes—I’m a certified facilitator, which basically means I really love this stuff and use it with clients as often as I can 😉)

The idea is beautifully simple.

Every project—big or small (yes, even planning dinner for guests)—moves through six phases. And each phase requires a different kind of energy.

Each of us has:

2 areas of Genius — our God-given talents or personal gifts.
The kind that GIVE us energy, joy, and passion.
The kind you could do for hours and somehow feel more alive after… who are you?? 😄
(Not just something you’re “good at” because you’ve been doing it forever and everyone expects it.)

2 Competencies — the things in between.
You’re good at them. People rely on you for them.
And after a while you’re like, “I need a snack… and a nap…”
You can do them—but too much feels like a slow leak.

2 Frustrations — the things that rob your energy (and maybe your will to go on).
The kind where you open your laptop, stare at the screen, and think,
“I need a new life.” 😅
Or at the very least… a very long break.

And this? This is where so many of our energy leaks (and boundary struggles) begin.

Here’s how the six types show up in real life:

WONDER — spots the need
“Should we be doing this differently?”
Notices gaps, problems, or missed opportunities.

INVENTION — creates the idea
“What if we tried this?”
Generates solutions and new possibilities.

DISCERNMENT — judges the idea
“This is the one that’ll actually work.”
Uses intuition and wisdom to evaluate what’s viable.

GALVANIZING — starts the movement
“Alright — here’s the plan. Let’s go.”
Rallies people and gets things moving.

ENABLEMENT — supports the people
“How can I help?”
Jumps in and moves things forward alongside others.

TENACITY — finishes the work
“We’re not done yet.”
Pushes things across the finish line.

Even though this was originally designed for work teams, I started seeing it everywhere.

In my home.
In my relationships.
In my own patterns.

And suddenly… so many things made sense.

Including where I needed better boundaries—and where I needed more compassion (for myself and others).

If this feels like a lot, that’s okay. We’re going to walk through each of these in the coming weeks.

For now, just get curious.

Did you read one and think, “Oh wow, that’s me”?
Did one make you want to run the other direction? (hello, frustration 👀)
Do you hear yourself asking one of those questions regularly?
Or do you see one clearly in someone else?

(Sometimes it’s easier to spot it there first.)

If so—you’re already onto something.

More awareness = more energy… and better boundaries to protect it.

And if you’re curious where your Working Geniuses fall,
you can take the assessment here.

For now—stay curious.

And be the genius that you are 💛