Restoring, moving with, and aligning ourselves with our energy takes some effort but most of us tend to simply roll with it, flying and crashing with each soar and dip. There is a mindset shift to explore here so that we can align ourselves with our energy and take control of those moments we are filled with intense energy or a negative drive. We can lean in and understand our energy to live our best life and become unstuck.
The Mindset Shift
My own personal shift came when I recognised my need for calm over intensity which occurred as a result of a period of poor mental health. I levelled my energy continuously to avoid overreaching and hitting an energy high I was somewhat afraid of. As you may remember, I had postnatal depression and struggled with anxiety. I believed this to be a new thing with the heavy emotions and hormones of pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. But as I worked through understanding my mental health and ways to support my wellbeing, I realised I have always had anxiety. Despite never putting a label on it, as I discussed my issues with my counsellor, I realised that as early as being at school, I suffered from social anxiety. The vulnerability of talking in class made my cheeks flush with embarrassment. I would go very red while talking and I was constantly rehearsing in my head what I was going to say if called on. And of course after I spoke I would continuously overanalyse what I had said. This anxiety sat alongside what I saw as an awkward, retaliating high energy which was my enemy.
As a result, I realised my selfcare has very much been embedded in remaining calm, avoiding stress, excess noise, and anything which could damage or alter my serene state of mind. High energy, I believed, was the killer of my calmness and the instigator of anxiety. So, I would pamper my mind and slow my energy by doing yoga, meditation, and listening to acoustic playlists. By creating that relaxed and chilled environment, I was attempting to smooth everything out and balance my energy to an even keel. High energy was not about to break down the calmness I believed was the energy level I needed. Avoiding high energy however was not the solution and I was denying myself of an incredibly positive aspect of my energy.
The Energy Shift
When it came to work outs, I avoided anything that was too high energy, too loud, and too heavily related to what I felt was stress and anxiety with my blood pumping and that extreme energy pulsating throughout my body. Because I mentally retreated from this high energy, I never got any enjoyment out of work outs. I associated them with a negative experience which made me unaware of my own natural energy levels.
Over the last few months I have had this incredible mindset shift around my energy. By recognising what drains me and what reignites me, I can manage and understand my energy levels better. In essence, when it comes to our energy there are many things which can deplete us – overworking, lack of sleep, and parental demands – but there are also many things which can energise us – exercise, diet, rest, and the outdoors.
When we take note and recognise the elements which can lift our energy up and fill our proverbial cup, we give ourselves the chance to support our minds and bodies to stay physically and mentally energised throughout the day. This shift means we will approach aspects of our lives differently.
For me, it was the workout situation! Tuning into my body made me recognise that having high energy was not a prerequisite for anxiety or stress but rather an empowering and uplifting way to increase and maintain my drive. I was naturally afraid to go into that space of high energy because it was too similar to the underlying effects of anxiety for me. So, I ordinarily chose calm which had its advantages in restoring my energy to some extent but left me without other options which I stayed closed off to.
Since mind mindset shift - I now dance!
High energy, full throttle, enjoyable dance work outs which I feel so good after!
Moving away from the subconscious fear that this kind of work out would trigger my anxiety has brought me back to doing something I love, which is dancing.
Exploring Our Energy
Understanding our energy and how it affects us, what drains us and what ignites us, takes some thoughtful exploration of our wants, needs, desires, and loves. Embracing that energy and working with it by eliminating the blocks which can negatively affect our energy will mean we can tap into our full potential and explore life in line with our energy levels, whether that is slow movement or intense dance workouts.
- Be present. To really explore your energy, you have to be aware. By being present, we can focus on the movements, sights, sounds, and smells around us which have a significant impact on building our energy.
- Take note of your emotions. Our emotions have a way of emptying and fuelling us. We may feel depleted after a good cry or heartache and restored after an intense belly laugh.
- Become aware of your thinking. Our thoughts are energy drivers. Negative and positive thinking has a way of fluctuating and potentially exacerbating or improving our energy.
- Move. Notice the way you move your body, how it makes you feel, and lean into the movements which uplift your energy.
- Become conscious of the moments your energy is low. Take note of what you were doing prior to a lull in energy. In the same way, recognise when your energy is high and appreciate what you have been doing to fill your energy cup.
- How does your body feel? Explore your energy by listening to your body and how it feels. Heavy and sluggish, or free and boundless?
