Today I Choose to be Teeming – How to be Teeming

There was a stretch of time when my life felt like it couldn’t possibly hold one more ounce of energy, yet somehow it kept expanding. I’d wake up with ideas buzzing before my feet even hit the floor, and by the end of the day, I was still scribbling notes, sketching plans, or replaying conversations that sparked even more possibilities.

Work was demanding but electrifying—I was building systems, mentoring younger staff, and seeing projects actually *take flight*. At the same time, my art was calling louder than ever. I’d find myself sketching during conference calls or jotting down story ideas between spreadsheets. Even my relationships felt richer, more layered. Conversations with Curtis would stretch late into the night, not because we had problems to solve, but because we had so much life to share.

Looking back, I realize that wasn’t chaos—it was teeming. My life was full to the brim with possibility, creativity, and purpose. Learning how to be teeming isn’t about doing more; it’s about recognizing when you’re in a season of abundance and learning to embrace the beautiful fullness of it all.

Understanding What It Means to Be Teeming

Being teeming means your life is rich with activity, ideas, relationships, and opportunities. It’s different from being busy or overwhelmed. When you’re teeming, there’s an underlying sense of vitality and purpose that energizes rather than drains you.

Research shows that people who feel their lives are “full in a good way” report higher levels of life satisfaction and resilience. This kind of positive fullness comes from alignment between your values, activities, and energy levels.

The Difference Between Teeming and Overwhelm

Many women mistake overwhelming busyness for a rich, full life. The key difference lies in intentionality and energy flow:

Teeming feels energizing: Activities and relationships feed your soul rather than drain it. You feel excited about your days rather than exhausted by them.

Overwhelm feels depleting: You’re constantly rushing between obligations that don’t align with your values or bring you joy.

Teeming includes rest: A truly full life has rhythms of activity and restoration. You’re not running on empty.

Overwhelm lacks boundaries: You say yes to everything without considering whether it serves your highest good.

Creating Conditions for Teeming

Align with your seasons: Like my experience of simultaneous professional growth and creative awakening, teeming often happens when multiple areas of life are flourishing together. Don’t force it—recognize and nurture these natural seasons.

Follow your energy: Pay attention to what gives you energy versus what depletes it. A teeming life is built around activities and relationships that energize you.

Embrace creative abundance: When ideas are flowing, capture them. Keep notebooks, voice memos, or apps handy for those moments when inspiration strikes during mundane tasks.

Deepen rather than widen: Instead of adding more surface-level activities, go deeper into the relationships and pursuits that truly matter to you.

Recognizing Your Teeming Seasons

Teeming doesn’t happen all the time, and that’s okay. These seasons often emerge when:

Multiple interests converge: Your work, creativity, and relationships start informing and enriching each other rather than competing for time.

You’re in flow: Time seems to move differently because you’re engaged in meaningful activities that challenge and fulfill you.

Energy begets energy: Success and satisfaction in one area spills over into others, creating positive momentum.

Purpose becomes clear: You have a sense of direction and meaning that makes even busy periods feel worthwhile.

Managing the Beautiful Fullness

When life is teeming with goodness, the challenge becomes managing abundance rather than scarcity:

Capture without committing: Write down ideas and opportunities without immediately acting on all of them. Not every good idea needs to be pursued right now.

Create systems for flow: Develop routines and systems that help you move smoothly between different areas of your full life.

Build in restoration: Even the most energizing activities require recovery time. Schedule rest like you would any other important appointment.

Share the abundance: When your life is teeming, you have more to offer others. Look for ways to share your energy and insights.

The Creative Aspect of Teeming

Teeming often includes a surge of creativity and personal growth. Like my experience of art calling louder during busy work periods, creativity doesn’t respect our schedules—it emerges when our lives are rich with input and inspiration.

Don’t ignore creative impulses because you’re “too busy.” Often, creative expression is what transforms busyness into meaningful teeming.

Teeming in Relationships

A teeming life includes rich, meaningful connections. This doesn’t mean more social obligations, but deeper, more authentic relationships.

Like those late-night conversations with Curtis, teeming relationships have room for exploration, vulnerability, and mutual growth. They add to your life’s richness rather than depleting your energy.

Sustaining Teeming Without Burnout

The secret to maintaining a teeming life is learning to surf the waves of abundance rather than fighting them:

Accept natural rhythms: Teeming seasons are followed by quieter periods. Both are necessary and valuable.

Stay connected to purpose: When you know why you’re doing what you’re doing, even busy periods feel meaningful rather than chaotic.

Maintain perspective: Remember that a full life is a privilege. Gratitude helps you appreciate abundance rather than feel burdened by it.

Keep learning and growing: A teeming life often involves continuous learning, like my approach to building confidence through new challenges.

Embracing Your Abundant Seasons

When your life is teeming with opportunity, creativity, and connection, resist the urge to slow down out of fear or guilt. These seasons are gifts to be received and fully experienced.

Document these times. Take pictures, keep journals, save mementos. Teeming seasons remind you of what’s possible and sustain you through quieter periods.

Most importantly, trust yourself to handle abundance. You don’t have to choose between different good things or apologize for having a rich, full life. You can be both grounded and growing, stable and adventurous, peaceful and passionate.

Today, choose to be teeming. If you’re in a season of abundance, embrace it fully. If you’re in a quieter period, prepare for and welcome the next wave of beautiful fullness that will come.

Your life has the capacity for incredible richness. Trust yourself to receive it, manage it, and share it with the world in ways that reflect your unique gifts and purpose.