You are energy

This time of year, as the weather starts to get colder and the sun sets earlier, it can leave us feeling depleted. I have been struggling with a lack of motivation recently, so I decided to focus on the theme of energy for my classes this week.

Feeling drained can often become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Sure, there are times that our bodies and minds need to rest. But sometimes we are the ones who exhaust ourselves. 

How does this happen? It could be that we’re stuck in the same routines. Maybe something or someone is blocking our energy. Maybe we tell ourselves we have no energy so loudly that we begin to believe it.

Whether or not you believe in the chakra system or connect with the philosophy of yoga, we know when our lives are flowing seamlessly and when they are not. Our natural state is not one of exhaustion or operating on autopilot. We can see this by observing children, who seem to have an unlimited supply of energy and passion for life. 

We don’t need to stay stuck in the energy that we’re in. In fact, we have the power to change our energy. That’s because energy isn’t something we have, it’s something that we are. Through both physics and philosophy, we understand that everything that exists in the universe is composed of the same energy. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras describe the power of this — because there is nothing in the world that exists without the label we have assigned to it, we can change everything simply by changing our own minds. 

So, how can we shift our energy? The first step is to notice where it is going. Every day, we are actively creating our future through our own thoughts and behaviors. If we focus only on what we are lacking in life, how tired we are, or how stuck we feel, we will continue to experience these things. However, if we can reframe our thoughts to celebrate the abundance of good things that surround us, we will continue to attract more positive things into our lives. 

Notice your thoughts and routines. Challenge them by trying something different. Sometimes this means doing the opposite of what our mind is telling us. For example, if we are feeling down we may think that we want to spend the day resting, but going for a walk instead might actually help us recharge. 

Learning to reenergize begins with reconnecting to life. Visualize the life you want for yourself and the person you want to be. Then, go there. Become that. Because you are energy.

Class playlist:

Love + light,

Lex