e=mc²

Energy = Mass x Speed of Light (in a vacuum) squared

What is energy? Intensity or vitality of action or expression.

All energy can be transformed or converted into different types of energy. Energy can also be refocused. The laws of physics state that total energy remains the same while only the type and focus changes.

It seems that people tend not to consider their energy until it is depleted. At that point, they feel frustrated that they can’t engage in things but think less about their relationship with their energy. So let’s think about it together…

Where do you direct your energy? Do you even think about it? Are you discerning? How do you decide where to invest your time and your energy?

How do you balance your energy? We live in a world that leans in the direction of multitasking. It is impossible to be fully engaged when you are multitasking. Energy is not well used and is often wasted when there is too much going on. Did you ever read an email in the flurry of your day and realize later that you misread it? I certainly have. Consider multitasking less than you do. Notice the difference in your efficiency when you carve out some time and focus on only one thing. Notice how much less energy this takes.

How do you conserve your energy? Conservation of energy is critical in order to not become depleted, overspent and crushed by exhaustion. Your energy is your currency so treat it respectfully and wisely. Manage it well and it will work better for you!

How do you restore your energy? What do you find to be restorative? What is nourishing to you? What helps you breathe deeper? How often do you make room for these things? Is it a priority for you? If not, why? How do you imagine things will change for you if you prioritize restoration in your life?

Remember, it’s your energy and if you stay conscious of it, then all of the above become your choice!

it’s okay to wobble, just don’t fall down

Flashback to the 1970’s. Magic 8 Ball, Pet Rock, Silly String, Lite-Brite, Etch-A-Sketch, Mastermind and of course, Weebles. “Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down.” You may even remember the commercial! They’re still around, 40+ years and counting!

Weebles are egg-shaped and bottom weighted so no matter what goes on around them, whether they are pushed, tilted or spun, gravity always pulls them back to an upright position. They are balanced and they can survive any wipeout!

Oftentimes people become emotionally wiped out when people, events or experiences feel disappointing or dissatisfying. When this happens, the fact that things didn’t go well gets turned inward and is used negatively against the self and in a flash, that person begins to feel not good enough or not enough, in general. A downward spiral ensues and so does the subsequent emotional wipeout.

So, like the weebles, we need to have a solid base that will always pull us back to an upright, solid position. I will call this base a secure sense of self. Part of this is the ability to recognize that not everything has to do with us. Sometimes things just don’t go well, sometimes others seem distant because they have things going on in their own lives, etc. And when things do have to do with us, it doesn’t have to demolish our self-esteem and turn everything else in our lives into mush. It is idealistic to suggest that external factors do not or should not impact even the securest sense of self but the question is how much. The key is to wobble but not to fall down (or be wiped out).

Those who know me have heard me talk, ad nauseam, about the importance of a secure sense of self and knowing your own truth no matter what. Who knew that I was talking about striving to be a Weeble?! Today I want to pass this along to you. Begin to think about it, talk about it and consider what it is you know to be true about yourself no matter what? When you think about what you know to be true, where do you feel it in your body? How do you feel when you hold onto these truths? More grounded? More solid? Do you sit straighter? Does your voice become more confident? Take some time, perhaps right now, to connect with your self and your body and see what happens when you explore this essential question for yourself.

look around. be amazed.

I was walking with a friend and pointed out a sculpture in the shape of a rabbit. She turned to me and said “you have the eyes of a three-year-old!” This is one of the best compliments I’ve ever received.

When did we stop noticing the little things that surround us? At what age did we abandon our childlike curiosity? How frequently do we take a moment to step out of the whirlwind of our adult lives, unplug ourselves from our technologically rich surroundings, to breathe, find balance and nourish our souls?

Take a moment to watch the children around you; take some time to see the world through their eyes. Notice what they notice, what they think about, what makes them smile and giggle. Consider the power in simplicity.

What can you do to make your life less complicated? Simpler? Or at the very least, what can you do to create some easier, playful moments for yourself? Schedule it in if you must. Do what you need to do to make it happen every day. It is worth it. You are worth it. 

\ˈba-lən(t)s\

balance – \ˈba-lən(t)s\ – a state of equilibrium or parity characterized by cancellation of all forces by equal opposing forces

Time and again, I’ve noticed how much harder people work when their life is not in balance. They try tirelessly to keep all of their balls in the air and always seem to be exhausted. They operate under the fear that if they don’t work that hard and that frenetically, nothing will get done or even worse, everything will fail. It is an amazing transformation to watch that same person find balance and a new way of being in the world. There is a noticeable shift in their mind, spirit, body and energy. Tranquility.

In a state of balance, there is no work. Only being, breathing and presence. It’s amazing.

Imagine entering into a yoga pose. All of your muscles make subtle shifts to get into the balance of the pose. Once you are balanced, the only way to stay solidly in the pose is to relax into the pose. To allow your muscles and your energy to sustain both relaxation and contraction while simultaneously moving in opposing directions (perhaps in tree pose your energy would move up through the top of your head and down through your heels). Your body feels held, suspended, solid. Your breath is full and deep.

Within balance there is no work. Where in your life are you working harder than you should? What can you do right now to create a sense of balance?