3 Ways to Keep Your Energy High

     Are you one of those people who gets a sinking feeling when you hear about what’s going on in the world? Do you feel overwhelmed not only by all you want to accomplish in your life but by the unending onslaught of bad news day after day after day? How can you keep your own light burning when it seems like all around you the darkness is growing?

     Let’s think of this in terms of your energy. It’s clear that certain tasks require predominantly one type of energy; for instance, tax preparation requires mental energy. Trying to deal with a rocky relationship requires emotional energy. Doing your exercise routine requires physical energy. Wrestling with life and death issues calls on your spiritual energy. We need all these energies working together every day to navigate the world we live in. And just like when a printer runs low on a single ink cartridge, when even one of our energy levels is low, it affects all the other kinds of energy we have. Once we run out, we need to replace it or we’ll get stuck.

     One of the best ways to keep your own energy intact and have access to more is to begin to pay attention to where your energy goes every day - let’s call it your home energy assessment. Except that in this assessment, your “home” is you and the energy you need to go through your day.

     An easy way to think about this is to substitute the word power: where do you lose power throughout the day? If you start to notice exactly where and in what circumstances you lose power, you can begin to seal it off or restore it. The sooner you start to notice when this happens, the sooner you can reclaim that energy and go on to accomplish your goals and dreams. 

     So in the spirit of living a life that where your energy is strong and focused on what you wish to accomplish, here are three ways you can save your energy for the people and things that matter to you.

     Number One: Spend less time on watching or reading the news. Do you know that the media is driven by stories that are specifically designed to trigger you emotionally and drain your energy? When the media constantly shows you fear-based stories that leave you feeling helpless or victimized, can you see how moral panic and public hysteria are the result? Keep that in mind the next time you’re reading or listening to the news. If you’re energy has been siphoned off by fear or self protection you won’t feel powerful enough to act on your on behalf or on behalf of others who need you. If you find yourself becoming hostage to the onslaught of negative stories out there, cut back the time you spend on them and seek out stories of strength and courage and power that will encourage and inspire you.
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     Number Two: Be clear on what you want - for yourself, for your family and loved ones, for the world - and don’t settle for less. Did you know the world runs on what’s called the pathology of inadequacy? This theory will try to convince you that you’re not enough as you are, and in order to overcome your “inadequacy” you need to buy more, be more and do more. When you fall for that idea, your self esteem suffers and so does your ability to create what you want in your life. You have within you the ability to meet life’s challenges and emerge stronger and wiser as a result. Don’t let anyone or anything tell you otherwise.

     Number Three: Don’t be afraid to rely on your own innate good judgment. It's always there for you when you take the time to listen. We all know there are competing agendas out there in the world vying for your participation, and many of them are not in your best interest. Are you aware of what happens when you’re lulled into a passive stupor by the desire for comfort or complacency? You lose the thread to your one “wild and precious life”. Claim your own autonomy or someone or something else will.
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     By taking these three steps to insure you’re not being drained of your energy, you’ll be able to channel that energy into what you want rather than what you should avoid. There are opportunities and possibilities waiting for you to recognize them and act on them, so don't be distracted by the those shiny objects that will throw you off track. Could it possibly be that the circumstances you find yourself in right now are exactly what you need to claim your unique gifts and become the person you've always wanted to be?