Your energy is chosen by the activities you participate in, the things you possess, the food you eat, the company you keep and your mindset. Being intentional with your energy is the most important thing you can do for your mental health and overall happiness.
Choosing your Energy
You are Energy. Everything around you holds energy.
What kind of feeling does that tall basket of laundry, overcrowded nightstand, or messy and unorganized purse give you?
Well, since this is my current situation, my answer would be an anxious feeling!
Let’s evaluate some of our things that contribute to our energy.
Energy in things
Oftentimes we don’t realize the impact possessions have on our energy. If we truly need this particular thing, shouldn’t it have a place and contribute to us in a good way?
Here’s how you can evaluate the things in your life:
- Start with one place in your home to assess (I’ll be starting with my nightstand)
- Pick one item up at a time and decide if you keep it, trash it or place it where it belongs. Ask yourself:
- “Do I need this?”
- “What value is it giving me?”
- “How many of these do I have?”
- “When is the last time I’ve used this item?”
- With your 3 piles:
- Trash – Put it in a bag and trash it… now.
- Donate – Put it in a bag and put it in your car.
- Keep – Put these items away with intent. Give it a home.
My Nightstands.
(Don’t judge me)
(This is so much better)
Quick Note about my nightstand:
I didn’t need every electronic plugged up by my bed, so they now reside in my office. I put the books on the bookshelf and threw out a lot of misc. things hanging around and in the nightstand.
How do you feel? How is your area? Analyze my area to get an idea of how the vibes quickly changed between the two pictures.
Items we possess should come with a purpose, otherwise, it is a drain and makes our space feel crowded and unpleasant.
Our energy is a reflection of our space.
We must be intentional with our things or they will take over our time and energy.
Ways to reclaim your positive energy
Exercise
Physical activity has been proven time and time again to boost your energy and overall health. The endorphins released from physical activity contribute greatly to the positive energy you feel. Start slow.
Music
The sounds of different instruments hold a special kind of energy that is felt in the soul. We should search for sounds and lyrics that inspire, encourage, and feed us good energy. My favorite instruments are the acoustic guitar, piano, and “church” drums. My current favorite artist is Jhené Aiko.
Hang out with positive people
Have you ever been hanging out with friends laughing, reminiscing, and having so much fun to look up and realize you all have lost track of time? This is the good energy I talk about. Get lost in the positive energy that you lose track of time.
Have you ever met someone for the first time and instantly clicked. You energy matched and immediately you knew they were going to be your friend. You attract the energy you put out. So, choose your energy with intent and get to meet other amazing people who are just like you!
Nature Walk
We are nature, that’s why we feel so at home and comforted there. Walking in nature will allow you to connect more with yourself and the positive vibrations you need. For those of you that can’t stand the woods… I get it. Nature can also be a well-paved nature trail.
Do what works for you while outdoors.
Sunlight
This is an instant boost to your spirit levels! In the sun, our brain releases serotonin in the brain that instantly calms you and naturally lifts your energy.
Be cautious around negative people
Have you ever been around a negative person, that just being in their presence shifted your mood? They may not even converse with you, but they merely carry this energy that your soul can sense a mile away. You are sensing their vibrations.
Everyone is on a journey and we must keep this in mind when encountering people with bad vibes. You never know what battles people are working through. Sometimes you’re able to shift a negative persons mood with your positive energy. But, sometimes, you can’t and that’s ok. You don’t have to stay there.
“Don’t adapt to the energy in the room.
Unknown
Influence the energy in the room.”
Protect your Energy
By: IDC Identity Crisis
We are responsible for our energy. It will indeed fluctuate. But again, we have the power to choose to be positive, negative, calm, or possess high or low energy.
After recognizing the different ways to choose our energy,
we have to protect it.
Create boundaries
You definitely can be kind while setting necessary boundaries and protecting your energy. The biggest boundary that should be set is allowing you “No” to mean just that, NO. Don’t feel compelled to explain why.
Set as many boundaries as you need. You can set a boundary by analyzing your life and where family, friends, and even coworkers may cross the line. Be direct and more tuned into your feelings instead of how they may feel about the boundary.
Speak up!
If you believe someone is not acting in good character, you have every right to acknowledge it. For example, back in my younger days, a friend would come to me often with gossip. She would talk badly about people and I didn’t like it. But I would sit there listening, nodding as if I were in agreement, and never said anything about it.
When I finally got tired of it, I spoke up about it. At that moment she chose who she wanted to be. She chose to be that girl who talked about people and I went the opposite way. We were no longer friends and I was ok with it because I did not want to be that type of person. I was not that type of person.
The encounter was not in a hostile way. I was kind, low tone and gentle with my words.
It’s necessary to speak up, but of course, be mindful of your approach. There is a time and place for everything.
Accept people for who they are
As stated earlier, we are all on a journey and we should never judge anyone. At any time, you can remove yourself from a person’s presence. You do not have to conform to their energy, continue being you.
We can only control ourselves and our reaction to them.
Acknowledge mentally their character and don’t take it personally.
It’s never about you, but them.
Understand the flaws within yourself
No one is perfect and we all slip into our moods at times. Always check yourself and your energy. Once you know what triggers you, be mindful when that trigger occurs and try to control it.
Everyone is flawed and we must continue the journey to
learning ourselves within.
Know your Sanity place
Keeping our energy in a good place takes intentional practice. We must have a routine, place, or activity that helps us replenish.
Here is a list of things I do to recharge:
- Yoga/Meditation
- Sage and set intentions
- Practice gratitude every day but especially at times my energy appears low
- Hot showers with candles and soothing music
- Spending time with my husband and very few friends who feed into me
- Solo Travel trips
- Writing/Reading (My latest book “The Power of Positive Energy” By Tanaaz Chubb)
All these things add to me. These activities or spaces allow me to focus on my energy and strengthen it. The more you practice choosing your energy and protecting it, the more everything and everyone around you falls in sync.
BONUS:
You all know how I am with my bonus tips. Here it goes.
Smile. Yes, smile.
Smiling is the most effective way to choose your energy and protect it at the same time. Go ahead and give it a try now!
“Everything is energy. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.”
Albert Einstein
How do you protect your energy?
by: Jasmine
Thank you for this article – I really needed this! It can be hard during a global pandemic to remain positive and this was a great reminder that protecting my energy is important and necessary for my mental health. Looking forward for the next article!
Thank you Cassandra. It really has been challenging. We all can use a reminder from time to time. 🦋
Thank you for the insightful information. I do this a lot with my clothes and just things around the house so I won’t feel so cluttered.
Great read, something I desperately needed to be reminded of today. Music, exercise and alone time helps me recharge. I’m still learning that every action does not deserve a reaction from me.
Jamila, the reaction part is a tough one. I know what you mean.