In our society today, there is great exploration of the word “energy”.
I believe there are two main types at play, physical energy and personal energy. Both are fundamentally different. Each of them play a unique role in how we live our lives.
Understanding the distinction between the two can help us optimise our well-being, productivity and overall sense of fulfilment.
Physical energy is all about the vitality derived from our bodies systems and functions. It is the energy that powers muscles and allows us to move, etc. Some of the factors that influence physical energy are:
- Nutrition-the food we eat provides the fuel necessary for our bodies to function optimally.
- Exercise- regular physical activity strengthens the body, clears the mind, improves endurance, and circulation.
- Sleep- when we sleep, the body restores, repairs and recharges the energy stores
- Hydration- proper fluid intake ensures our body system functions efficiently.
When our physical energy is low, we may feel fatigued, sluggish or drained. Many present at the clinic with low physical energy. I often suggest supplements and homoeopathy to support them.
Emotions can have a significant impact on our physical energy because of the mind-body connection. When we feel strong emotions like excitement, happiness or anger, our bodies release hormones like adrenaline or cortisol, which can either boost or deplete our energy levels.
Personal energy is more about our mental, emotional and psychological capacity. It’s how motivated, focused and engaged we feel. It can be influenced by factors like our mindset, stress levels, relationships, our values, boundaries, and overall well-being. Personal energy is how we feel and connect with the world around us.
Some factors that can influence our personal energy are:
- Mindfulness and meditation- both of which help to clear the mind and reduce stress.
- Setting boundaries- learning to say no and protecting our emotional space from toxic environments.
- Pursuing meaningful goals- engage with activities that align with your values and passion help keep us motivated and positive.
- Self-care- regularly check with your emotional state and take time to be aware and nurture your inner self, like walking, journaling and self-reflection.
Our personal energy is about how we are in and about our daily lives. Physical energy can influence personal energy just like personal energy can influence physical energy. Feeling mentally energised can make us feel more physically capable and vice versa.
It’s interesting the new buzzword at the moment is all about our “vibe”. The word often refers to the atmosphere, feeling or mood of a person or place. It’s the impression, we get.
Are we aware that we are in control of our own vibe? We can choose. We have the choice to make the changes be that when we are alone, at work or with others.
Personal energy or vibe is something that we can learn to build, maintain and strengthen by bringing awareness to how we are in each situation and how we allow our environment and other people to affect our vibe. We can learn to adjust our internal vibe by making the decision to change.