Use Your Energy Wisely

Yesterday was All Souls day, when we remember and pray for the souls of those who have passed away. As I thought about my father’s death last year, I recalled a phrase that a friend had sent me during that sad period: “Energy can neither be created nor destroyed.”

This simple phrase brought me great comfort because it assured me that my dad wasn’t gone; he was just gone somewhere else. If the laws of physics hold true, then he is still around, just in a form I may not recognise anymore.

Energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only be changed from one form to another or transferred from one body to another, but the total amount of energy remains constant.

- Law of Conservation of Energy

What has all this got to do with work? Very simply, you are a bundle of energy. You may not be able to choose where that energy goes when you die, but you can certainly decide where it goes during your lifetime.

This year, this week, this day, you are going to expend that energy in one way or another. You can decide now how your energy will be used, or let yourself be a puppet yanked around by the needs of everyone and everything else.

Here is the prime condition of success: Concentrate your energy, thought and capital exclusively upon the business in which you are engaged.

- Andrew Carnegie

1. Manage your physical energy

Are you the kind who packs your schedule to overflowing? Are your commitments there because they get you closer to where you want to be, or because you just didn’t know how to say no? You may feel guilty turning down an appointment or a request if your schedule suggests that you could somehow squeeze it in among the hundred other things you’ve promised to do.

I had a problem protecting my time and energy too, until I heard some wonderful advice that when I want to leave a function, just go and don’t worry about giving an excuse. You don’t need others’ permission to leave, or to spend your time the way you want to.

When you give an excuse, most people can tell it’s an excuse anyway. Maintain your integrity by refusing to tell a white lie when it simply isn’t necessary. Also, you will one day run out of excuses and find yourself agreeing to something you don’t want to agree to.

It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.

- George Washington

The next time you are asked to do something or go somewhere that you don’t want to, just smile and say “Not this time, but thanks for asking.” There’s no need to say any more. If pressed, clarify by saying “I’d just rather not.” It will take some courage to do this the first time, but once you realise that it’s really easy, you will wonder why you didn’t start doing this sooner.

When trapped at a function you’d rather not be at, just get up, wave goodbye and go. If necessary say “I enjoyed myself, thank you. I’m leaving now.” If questioned or pestered to stay, just say firmly “It’s time for me to go.” Which it is, because you have decided that your energy is better spent elsewhere, like resting or exercising or anything else that matters more to you.

2. Direct your mental energy

Of all the thoughts you have in a day, how many are uplifting or useful? We try to control so much in our lives, but the one thing we forget to control is our thinking. And yet our thoughts are the blueprints for everything else that happens in our lives.

All truly wise thoughts have been thought already thousands of times; but to make them truly ours, we must think them over again honestly, until they take root in our experience.

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Most of us need visual or audio cues to remind us where we want to direct our mental energies. Even a simple card stuck on your computer screen constantly reminding you to “Think of solutions, not problems” will over time help you to become a more effective and valued worker.

Affirmations are a good way to decide where to direct your thoughts as to what results you want.

3. Centre your spiritual energy

Directing your mental energy is harder than managing your physical energy, and centering your spiritual energy is harder than both put together. Yet once we can do this, a lot of our questions about life will be answered, and perhaps the questions will disappear altogether. Life will fall into place.

Our spiritual energy is usually scattered because we’re so busy focusing on everything else that we don’t take time to be quiet, be still, just be. All the spiritual masters, from every religion or background, have stressed the importance of connecting to our deeper source, and knowing who we are.

So this week, use your energy wisely by trying one or all of the following:

  • Say ‘no’ to at least one non-essential request, to manage your physical energy.
  • Write a simple sentence or affirmation that directs your mental energy.
  • Close the door to your room and just sit still for 20 minutes, to centre your spiritual energy.

One of mankind’s greatest challenges is to tap the energy around us. Energy itself is unlimited, but the constraint is our ability to harness and use it. The same goes for your personal energy. Find ways to harness and use it well, and you’ll be amazed at how much potential you have.

We begin to realise we are energy itself with all of its inherent possibilities.

- Ted Andrews

Share
If you like this post please share it using the button above, thanks!

You can subscribe for free updates by RSS or Email.

4 Responses to “Use Your Energy Wisely”

  1. Jocelyn
    November 3rd, 2008 @ 2:47 pm

    That is so true. I’ve also lost my father, and I’ve also found great solace in that thought, that energy/ matter can neither be created nor destroyed. When people go away, they don’t just vanish into thin air. Nothing ever just disappears. Nothing is ever truly lost. Even on earth, we can observe it in nature’s laws. That though night comes, day definitely comes. That though spring fades, we know it shall certainly come again :-)

  2. Daphne
    November 3rd, 2008 @ 5:42 pm

    Jocelyn, you write so poetically! Thanks for sharing. I’m glad I’m not the only one who finds solace in this thought, as I’ve sometimes wondered how a law of physics can be such spiritual balm!

  3. Vincent
    November 4th, 2008 @ 12:05 am

    Hi Daphne,

    I believe that saying no is definitely one lesson that we should learn. By accepting all request and try not to let anybody down is only equals to letting ourselves down. Good note on that.

    Cheers
    Vincent
    Personal Development Blogger

    Vincents last blog post..How Changing Your Beliefs Can Bring You Success Part 1

  4. Daphne
    November 5th, 2008 @ 7:36 am

    Hey Vincent,

    That’s a good perspective – that it is possible to let yourself down by not saying no. Thanks for pointing that out.

    Daphne

Leave a Reply