10 Energy Zappers and How to Zap ‘em Back…

How much of your energy is spilling out into the ocean of your life? Think of your energy like the BP Oil Spill. Oil can be energy but if spilled into the ocean it’s energy zapping.

As the BP oil spill has shown us, cleaning up is significant more costly than drilling for it. Same holds true for your personal energy stores. If you deplete yourself too much, it can take months and month to fully recover.

So the easiest way to maintain and grow your energy – don’t ever lose it!! Here are ten hidden energy zappers and how to zap ‘em back…

1. Inadequate Water: Quality and Quantity. Yawning a lot today? You are probably dehydrated, and yawning is the result. Drink good quality water — one-half your weight in ounces per day. So, at 150 pounds, you should drink 75 oz of water (not soda, not beer, not ice tea, not coffee – water!).

2. Too Little Protein; Too Many Carbs and Calories. Most people don’t eat enough protein and eat way too many carbs and total calories. I’m NOT talking about a high-protein diet but a good balance between protein and carbs. To calculate your needed protein intake see: How Much Protein per Day Should You Eat? The easiest way to keep total calories down: limit or eliminate alcohol – that will immediately cut 200 – 800 calories per day!!

3. Sugar. Including (and especially) sugar substitutes. Unless the sugar comes in a fruit or vegetable, it’s really just the devil in disguise. It will cajole you into thinking you have more energy, and then ZAP, you’ll crash even lower. For more tips on eating right check out The Morning Coach: Give Your Body the Proper Fuel

4. Dishonesty. All those little promises you make to yourself — and don’t keep — insidiously eat away at your energy. You spend psychic time and energy saying over and over – I’ll write that book, clean the garage, build that shelf, play with the kids more… Be mindful of the internal promises you make – and KEEP them.

5. Disingenuousness. If you say you are going to do something — do it. Saying yes just to please someone not only saps you of energy but also empowers the task as it looms over you and sucks your enthusiasm right out. Make a commitment – keep it – or don’t make it to begin with.

6. Isolation. We all want and need quiet time (see #7), but too much, for too long is not healthy – it’s wallowing in your own pity. Get out, take a walk in the sun, get coffee at local coffee shop, go to the mall, have lunch with a friend – anything just let life in.

7. Over-stimulation. Today, overstimulation is the most likely cause of fleeing to isolation. You do need some quiet time, by yourself. Strike a balance between overstimulation and isolation by taking a 20 minute peaceful break every day. Meditate, or if that’s not your thing, just sit quietly in a park or library, or walk around the office or neighborhood. Check out The No. 1 Habit of Highly Creative People on the zenhabits blog for more ideas.

8. Negative People. Dealing with difficult and or negative people is carcinogenic. They are not worth your time, energy and passion. Leave them be, change your job, do whatever you need to surround yourself with people you enjoy being with and who challenge you intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally – in a positive and affirming way.

9. Lack of Significance. Outwardly people strive for success; however, it’s significance that leads us to wholeness. When we’ve made a difference in someone’s life – that’s when we smile to ourselves. Being too self-focused causes us to close up, dry up, and rot. Reach out: open the door for the guy behind you, help the pregnant woman in the parking lot load her car. Start small and the next thing you know, you’ll be volunteering at the local food bank. Joshua Becker talks about this concept: Stop Chasing Success. Seek Significance.

10. Unfilled life goals. The biggest hidden zapper is inertia. Not doing all the things you dreamed about doing when you were younger. Not even trying, not even taking the first, then second step. Do it. Do it now and you’ll feel the energy flow. Having personal integrity is Essential to Creating Effortless Flow and as Valery Satterwhite said, act with integrity and “see how your life transforms from one of struggle to creative flow.”

 

An Apple a Day…

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.  Taken literally, it’s good advice.  Taken philosophically, it’s a life changer.

Literally, it’s about eating right. The apple represents the good, whole foods that should dominate our daily intake. It represents the fruits and vegetable that should be an every-meal staple.

But philosophically, it represents a way of life.  Eating 30 apples on the last day of the month, do not make up for 29 days without an apple.  Doing something good for your body, your mind, your spirit – every day – is what makes the difference.  One apple a day – is that really so hard?  Not if you consider that the apple is more than just an apple.  It’s anything that improves well-being.

Feeling good, having enough energy throughout the day to do the things you want to do, to accomplish your long term goals takes small steps, one after the, everyday.  Here are six way that An Apple a Day philosophy can transform your life:

1.  Appl-eat.  Not to sound like Gertrude Stein, but an apple, is an apple, is an apple.  Meaning, eating right is important.  But you don’t have to go from a junk-food junkie to a health-food fanatic.   Think of your food choices falling on a sliding scale from unacceptable choices that can eventually kill you, to stellar behavior that gives you energy and promotes long-term health.  We all skate along that scale from side to side,  every time we eat.   The key is to just to inch forward, bite by bite (pun intended). Soon the habit is ingrained and you are eating right all the time.  The key is to try to eat an apple (which philosophically represents any whole, fresh, water-filled food) everyday.   Eating 30 apples, all on day 30, will only succeed in giving you gas!

2.  Apple-thought.  You’ve read it a thousand times, stop the negative thinking.  Easier said than done.  But could you eliminate one or two negative thoughts!  Sure!  Being aware of your habitual thoughts, one more time today than you did yesterday, is apple-thinking.  Have an apple-thought today.

3.  Apple-cise.  Exercise doesn’t have to be a two-hour workout.  30 minutes, three times a week is what the experts say will keep you in good shape – but who has time for even that!  You might, if you apple-cise.   Do it in little bites.  Park at the end of the lot, walk up the stairs, walk with a quick pace to the door instead of sauntering along,  do a round of sit-ups during the commercials, do deep knee bends while brushing your teeth.

4.  Applanner. Energy builds upon itself, and the best way to keep it rolling is to know what’s next.  Having a plan is the renewable fuel for momentum.  With it you can go miles without stopping.  Energy builds from the small successes and the positive momentum builds until the goal is realized.

5. Appassion.  What do you love to do?  For most, it’s not going to work everyday.  But do you act on your passion everyday?  Take a look at how two creative young men used  An Apple a Day philosophy to work on their passion.  You don’t have to take it as literal as they did, but you can take action everyday.   Want to write that novel – it starts with words per day. Want to build that house?  Want a new career?  It’s all the same.  So start your Applanner on your passion and WORK that plan – EVERY day!

6.  Apple-Growth.  Growing stronger, more confident, comes with daily successes, daily action towards your goals;  not the big wins.  The big wins give you short-term highs, but it is the small daily victories that build the foundation for sustained growth and success.

So remember, your apple today.

ENERGY for Living Life Passionately

Energy.  Not the kind that fuels your car, or heats your home, but the kind that fuels your body, your mind, your Mojo!  Ever watch a four-year old child run around and play, and play, and play, and play.  Now, that’s what I’m talking about – Energy.   

Energy:  Can’t live without it, but not always sure where or how to get it.

This blog is devoted to the creating, maintaining, sharing, sourcing, or borrowing energy – any way we can get it.  It spans new age, old age, traditional, medicine, food, exercise, health tip, thoughts, ideas, sources, mind, body, spirit, anything and everything that can build, maintain or develop energy within us.  Part philosophical; part factual, hopefully entertaining, but always practical.

Energy for what?  You ask. Living.  Loving.  Learning. Achieving. Being. Doing. Developing. Creating. Supporting. Optimizing. Socializing. Internalizing. Inspiring. Teaching. Guiding. Motivating. Whatever!  It’s about having the energy to do whatever it is you love to do — in the biggest, boldest, most powerful and passionate way ever.   It’s about a more creative, more productive, more energized — you.

We explore the sources of energy from Apples to Zen.  Whatever makes us get-up-and-go.  Whatever sharpens our brain for focus, clarity, better reasoning, and positive thought.  Whatever conjures passion.  Whatever opens our minds to diversity and challenge.  Whatever supports our bodies for the stress of daily life. Whatever develops our spirit. Whatever helps us live with energy and passion.

Energy — without it, we have neothing; with it, we can accomplish anything. Join me in the pursuit of ENERGY from Food and Passion.

Dee