Being happy is about channeling your energy
As human beings in priviledged societies, many of us expend a very small portion of our energy on basic survival. Most of us have a huge surplus of mental and physical energy to pursue other endeavors. Being happy is really all about how we channel this surplus of energy. If you channel it in healthy ways, not only will you be happy, you will also bring your own unique creativity to the world. If you don’t channel the energy intentionally though, your mind will take over and turn it into boredom, anxiety, diseases, addictions etc.
When you are bored, it’s really just a signal that your energy is stagnant. When you’re bored, it does not mean you need to go eat your 5th scoop of icecream of the day. It does not mean you need to flip through all the shows on netflix until your butt hurts on the couch. It simply means you need to flow your energy.
The same concept applies to anxiety. When you are anxious, it’s just a result of your brain using the surplus mental energy to recycle unnecessary negative thoughts. When you are anxious, it does not mean you need to continuously worry. It certainly does not mean you need to pour yourself a glass of wine. What alcohol really does is just suppressing the surplus of mental energy into numbness. Instead of spending your energy on negative thinking loops or drugs and alcohol, you can simply channel it in healthier ways.
So how exactly do we channel this energy? By making connections. In normal times, this probably means connecting with the people in our lives. In the midst of the pandemic when solo time becomes abundant and human connections are scarse, it is paramount that we connect with ourselves through…
- Our creativity
- Our 5 senses
- Our breaths
- Our bodies
The aspect of ourselves most often overlooked is our creativity. I often hear people say “oh this person is the creative type”. In reality, there is no such thing as the “creative type”. All people are creative. If you don’t think you are creative, it was simply stifled by schooling and society. The good news is your creativity never left you and can always be rediscovered. By creating, I don’t mean you need to paint like Monet or write like Shakespeare. Simply journaling down your thoughts, cooking a meal or redecorating your house gets your creative juices flowing. We all came to this planet to create in one form or another. If you are not creating, your creative energy will inevitably turn into anxiety, depression, loneliness, boredom or anger.
While we’re busy feeding our thinking minds with constant stimuli, we often forget to enjoy the world through the sensual pleasures life bestowed upon us. To connect with our senses, you could set up camp in the mountains or take a dip in the ocean. Connecting with nature is one of the best ways to revive your 5 senses. Much more accessible though are the simple pleasures we overlook everyday like the fragrance of the fresh pepper you’re cutting up for dinner, the warmth of the water coming out of the shower head, the beauty of the painting on your bedroom wall, the sound of the rain outside your window.
Perhaps the most fundamental way we flow energy is through our breath. If you can take deep belly breaths like a baby throughout the day, the rest will naturally follow. However, as busy human beings we often hold back a bit in our daily lives and don’t completely let in the life force energy of breath. If you want to know more, see my article “The Breath of Life”.
As for our bodies, this topic has been discussed a great deal, so I will be brief here. If you sit at a desk all day, there is no question you have pent up physical energy. So Get. Some. Excercise! Yoga, HIIT, weights, running, dancing etc- just pick anything you like to do. You can’t go wrong.
How are you spending your pandemic time?
