The Western Perspective.
Usually we know when we feel energised, and conversely when we feel sluggish and demotivated. We might not always be able to put our finger on why that might be. Often it is a combination of factors.
Factors that Drain Energy:
Stress: Chronic stress can take a toll on both physical and mental energy levels, leading to fatigue and burnout.
Lack of Sleep: Inadequate or poor-quality sleep can leave us feeling tired and drained throughout the day.
Unhealthy Diet: Consuming an imbalanced diet can affect our energy levels negatively.
Physical Inactivity: A sedentary lifestyle can lead to reduced energy levels and overall fitness.
Negative Emotions: Persistent negative emotions such as anxiety, anger, and sadness can drain mental and emotional energy.
Overstimulation: Constant exposure to digital devices, noise, and external stimuli can contribute to mental fatigue.
Lack of Boundaries: Overcommitting and not setting healthy boundaries can lead to exhaustion and burnout.
Dehydration: Insufficient water intake can lead to feelings of lethargy and decreased energy.
Health Conditions: Chronic illnesses and medical conditions can significantly impact energy levels.
Environmental Factors: Factors such as air quality, temperature, and lighting can affect our energy levels.
Factors that Replenish Energy:
Quality Sleep: Getting enough restorative sleep is essential for replenishing physical and mental energy.
Nutritious Diet: Eating a balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients can provide sustained energy levels.Check out Zoe programme and look at the Science
Regular Exercise: Engaging in regular physical activity can boost energy, improve mood, and enhance overall well-being.
Mindfulness and Relaxation: Practices such as meditation, deep breathing, and yoga can help reduce stress and increase energy.
Positive Social Connections: Spending time with supportive friends and loved ones can uplift our spirits and boost energy.
Time in Nature: Spending time outdoors and connecting with nature has been shown to have rejuvenating effects on energy levels.
Hydration: Drinking enough water throughout the day is important for maintaining optimal energy levels.
Creative Activities: Engaging in hobbies and creative pursuits can stimulate the mind and increase overall vitality.
Setting Boundaries: Learning to say no and establishing healthy boundaries can prevent energy-draining overcommitment.
Self-Care: Taking time for self-care activities that bring joy and relaxation can contribute to replenishing energy.
Laughter and Joy: Engaging in activities that bring laughter and joy can have positive effects on energy and mood.
Mindful Technology Use: Managing screen time and digital device use can help reduce mental fatigue.
Energy as a currency.
When we think of energy as the "currency" that powers our daily lives, it underscores the crucial role that our physical, mental, and emotional energy plays in everything we do. Just like money, energy is a limited resource that we must allocate wisely to achieve our goals, maintain well-being, and make the most of our daily lives. This metaphor helps emphasise the importance of managing our energy levels, making conscious choices about where we invest our energy, and recognizing that there are trade-offs involved. It also highlights the need for "energy management" practices, such as getting enough rest, engaging in activities that recharge us, and practising self-care to maintain a healthy balance. By treating energy as a valuable currency, we can better appreciate the significance of our daily decisions and actions, aiming to optimise our overall quality of life, while avoiding burnout or "energy debt."
Energy levels play a significant role in influencing our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The balance and quality of our energy can have profound effects on how we feel and function in these different aspects of life. Our energy levels can determine our activity levels, immune function, physical perfomance and even pain perception. We all know that when are batteries are low, we dont possess the same mental clarity and creativity. Likewise from an emotional perspective, we may become more irritable, down and less resilient. In short our physiology is impacted by the levels of our energy. So spend your energy wisely!!
The Eastern Perspective
From an Eastern perspective, particularly drawing from traditions such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, energy is viewed as a vital force that flows through the body, mind, and environment. These traditions emphasise the holistic nature of health and well-being, considering the interplay between physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects. Here's an overview of the Eastern perspective on energy:
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): In TCM, energy is often referred to as "Qi" . Qi is considered the fundamental life force that animates all living beings and flows through the body along the meridians. The balance and smooth flow of Qi are crucial for maintaining health, and imbalances or blockages in the flow of Qi are believed to lead to illness. Hence when we practise our yoga we are bringing attention and awareness into the meridians.
Ayurveda: Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of medicine, also emphasizes the balance of energies within the body. Ayurveda recognizes three primary energies, or "Doshas," known as Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. These Doshas are believed to govern various physiological and psychological functions.
What I love about the Ayurveda approach is that it has a focus on what we eat , but within that it is specific to the individual. If you look up the Zoe programme ( Check out Zoe programme and look at the Science ) you will see that this is what western science is just starting to recognise and act upon. So diary might be energising for me but not someone else, or visa versa. Here is a very brief overview from an ayurvedic perspective.
Dosha Balance: Maintaining a balanced proportion of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha Doshas is essential for optimal health. Imbalances can lead to physical and emotional disorders.
Individual Constitution: Ayurveda emphasises individualized approaches to health. Each person has a unique Dosha constitution, and understanding this constitution helps tailor lifestyle choices and treatments.
Diet and Lifestyle: Ayurveda prescribes specific diets, herbs, exercises, and daily routines based on an individual's Dosha constitution to balance energy and promote well-being.
Mind-Body Connection: Ayurveda recognizes the close connection between the mind and body. Mental and emotional well-being is considered crucial for maintaining balanced energy.
East meets West.
Energy and physiology can be viewed as two sides of the same coin. This analogy emphasises the interconnected nature of these aspects of our well-being. The comparison highlights that energy and physiology are not separate entities but rather different perspectives or manifestations of the same underlying processes.
The energetic state of the body and its physiological health can be seen as two different expressions of overall well-being. When one side is balanced and functioning optimally, it positively affects the other side. Changes in our energy levels, are reflected in our emotional and mental states, and our physiological functioning.
When you look at the text above on what replenishes our energy, take a look at this from a personal perspective. As you may or may not know, I have spent my summer trying to get to grips with creating a website , and programme that is intutitive, interactive, transformational and enlightening. But on top of this, I want to make it as accessible too as many people as possible. Below is a screen shot of how my website is faring against similar websites. Pay attention to the radar pie chart ( BTW I had no idea what this was until this summer!) on the right hand side of the screen shot. Its a bit like a weather radar. But in this this case instead of showing rain, the more of the pie chart that is covered in blue indicates how well I am doing in achieving my goals! So as you can see a pretty piss poor effort on my part. But a lot better than two months ago!!
Now in the ideal world, I would beable to deliver to your inbox a blank radar wagonwheel pie chart with the various 'energy replenisher' spokes for you to fill in how you are doing on your very own individualised radar map. So just like my philosophy on health and wellbeing you will have to take responsibility and construct your own 'radar wagonwheel pie chart' reflecting where you are spending your energy, and using it to see if you can identify some areas for growth?! Then take positive action!! Reassess you pie chart at the end of this term, to see how you are doing and how those energy levels have been affected, by the changes in your behaviour. Let everyone one know what has worked for you in terms of what areas you worked on and what simple actions you took. Write in the comments box at the bottom of the page.
As if by magic this article popped up in my inbox just the other day! Its title is 'Behaviour a miracle drug for our health.' Well worth a read ( 3 mins).
Challenge of the Week
Next weeks blog will look as Energy as Medicine. It will in part be a personal reflection. One of those reflections, is that in order to make a change of habit then it has to be simple and achievable, and people need to see and value the purpose behind it.
If you havent already been using your tapping to shift your energy then you might want to take a look at this blog that references EFT, to give you greater understanding as to how touch and tapping might work for you.
Specific to this terms work on the spleen and stomach meridians, and my personal observations re common energy patterns, I am setting a challenge around mealtimes. As a generalisation, a lot of us will spend a good deal of time in our head. That will mean our energy from an eastern perspective will be in your head. When you are eating you want that energy to drop into your gut to digest your food. Put your mind on hold while you eat and digest your food mindfully!
Your challenge is before you eat.
Sit down
Feel your feet
Breathe into out of a space two inches below your belly button.
Tap on the stomach meridian points below the eyes, the jaw , and the inside of the collar bones.
The tapping is done on the out breath.
Feel the energy drop downward from head towards gut.
Enjoy your meal.
Simple... you are going to eat anyway, so why not tag on a healthy habit.
In a couple of weeks time, let everyone know how you got on in the comments section.
Sending love
Stuart xx
Thank you Stuart. I needed your wisdom. I'm depleted. I thought I was bored not doing enough and arranged too much. I've now cancelled much of my arrangements and cherry picked those that will energise me. I've decided I need to do less but give it focus. I'll look at a pie chart and read the articles later.Thank you so