Your Energy: Intentional or FAFO?

When it comes to our personal energy, we have two options: we can intentionally engage with the energy within and around us or we can “eff around and find out” (FAFO). Unless we’ve come from a culture where personal energy fields are widely accepted and discussed, or we’ve studied these wisdom traditions and put what we’ve learned into practice, we don’t typically think of our personal energy as something that we have the power to influence and interact with. This is a huge missed opportunity and, frankly, it can even be dangerous!

We use the word ‘energy’ all the time, referring to everything from energy drinks to the level of enthusiasm we have for a project we’re working on. We talk about having the energy (or not) for a specific person, situation, or activity. We can sense when someone’s energy is different or when we walk into a meeting and it just feels weird. We feel when someone we’re interacting with is draining our energy. And, we all know what it feels like to have a "gut feeling" when something isn't right. Or, when our "BS radar" kicks in. That instant knowing is our body sensing and interpreting energy.

Our energy exchange with other people (and the Universe) happens unconsciously most of the time, but even when we’re not aware of how we're using our personal energy, it’s still happening — with tangible results! This haphazard energy use can create real-life outcomes that we don’t intend, including behavior patterns, outcomes, and situations that we don't consciously want, but that keep showing up in our lives. On the flip side, being intentionally and mindfully engaged with our energy and the energy around us can unlock a new level of health, happiness, and abundance in our lives. It's up to us: be intentional or FAFO?

Scientists and Hippies Agree

Scientists and hippies describe it differently, but they do agree on this: We all have vibes. Scratch that. We are vibes. Everything in the known universe is energy, vibrating and resonating at various frequencies. Even objects that appear to be solid and stationary are not. While we accept this as scientifically true, most of us are not taught how to practically apply it in our lives. We’re all walking collections of particles and waves, but somehow this all seems theoretical. It's not. It's our reality. We transmit energy. We attract energy. We receive energy. Our thoughts are energy. Our emotions are energy. Our bodies are energy. Our entire life experience is one big reflection of the energy inside and around us.

You’ve probably heard of the law of attraction. If not, in a nutshell, it teaches that we attract people, things, and experiences into our lives simply based on the vibration we are transmitting. Everything in the universe has it's own unique vibration and like attracts like, meaning the energy we put out, positive or negative, comes right back to us. This wisdom has been in existence since… well, forever. The law of attraction has been a key theme in everything from ancient religious texts to scientific journals and modern self-help books (e.g. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne). The tl;dr version of this powerful truth is this: We co-create our reality with the Universe through the energy we transmit and attract.

Feed Your Energy (Not Chex Mix)

After exploring energy from various perspectives, including Shamanism, Yoga, Ayurveda, Reiki, and even quantum physics, I don't consider myself an energy expert. Not even close. However, I realized I didn’t need to be an expert in all things energy to take responsibility for my personal energy field. I'm an expert in me, in my energy, and how the energy around me affects me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. You're an expert too, in you. And, we all have the power to intentionally co-create with the Universe by receiving and sharing energy.

When we think about engaging and managing our personal energy field, our most tangible interactions are through what we consume. Consumption could be food. It's also everything we hear, smell, feel, or see. Everything we experience in our environment is energy that we take in and respond to, including Chex Mix and crime dramas. Recently, I got 14 minutes into a crime drama and had to turn it off. I could literally feel how the energy was affecting me. At work, I had a similar energetic ah-ha moment when I was absentmindedly chowing the office's complimentary Chex Mix instead of getting lunch. When I actually tuned into what my body wanted it was practically screaming for something green. One big salad later, I felt so much better. Nothing against Chex Mix, but in terms of life-force energy, salad wins. All this to say, everything we consume is energy that affects us in some way, which is why we need to be aware and intentional with our energy consumption.

Keep The Good Vibes Flowing

Below are four practical, universal strategies that I use to manage my energy flow. I invite you to consider these as a starting point and supplement with your own exploration. Also, keep in mind that, given all the internal and external influences that impact our energy, we're never perfectly in balance for long. That's not the goal. What we're going for is more of a dynamic balance, achieved through a combination of awareness and ongoing adjustments that keep our energy flowing in a way that promotes health and well-being.

1) Notice Energy Shifts + Correct Imbalance

One of the most important takeaways I learned from studying Ayurveda is that opposites can heal. If something is knocking you out of balance, do the opposite to create balance. Be aware of the energy within and around you. Notice what you're consuming through all of your senses, and make healthy, nurturing choices about what you take in. When you notice negative energy throwing you off, choose not feed it or consume it. Don't go there! If you don’t want it, don’t engage with it, don’t follow where it leads, don’t let it in, and don’t let it consume you. Trust your "Spidey" sense. Notice when your energy shifts or feels out of whack. Don't judge the imbalance, just observe and get curious. Take a moment to tap into the wisdom of your body and your intuition. What does your gut tell you? What feels out of balance? What adjustments can you make now? What choices would improve your well-being and the well-being of those around you? What positive changes can you make to shift your perspective, actions, or environment? These choices and changes also shift your energy. Bonus! The beneficial changes we make in one area of life to correct imbalance (in our relationships, finances, career, health, etc.) can create positive energy and momentum that spills over into all the other areas of our life and work, enhancing our overall well-being.

2) Give to Receive + Accept with Gratitude

Like attracts like—that's the gist of the Law of Attraction. When we give openly and generously, not out of perceived obligation or because we expect something in return, we receive that goodness right back. The energy we create with our joy, love, gratitude, and acceptance has the power to heal and connect us, so lean into that energy and share it. A smile is a gift. Making someone laugh is a gift. Accepting others, as they are, unconditionally, is a gift. Wishing someone peace is a gift; even a silent wish is an energy exchange. If nothing else, take some time every day to notice and appreciate what's good in your life. Pause to feel it—not just thinking about it or saying it—but staying in the moment until you feel the gratitude wash over you. The energy that comes from actually feeling gratitude has the power to shift, move, and attract even more goodness into your life. If this sounds woo-woo to you, that's cool. Try it anyway! Introducing more laughter, love, and gratitude into our daily experience certainly can't hurt.

3) Keep Your Energy Flowing

Energy needs to flow. When the energy within and around us is flowing, we feel a sense of ease and lightness. When we close off, energy can get stuck. Not only does this stagnant energy make us feel out of balance, it can lead to energy blockages that impact us mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and even physically—resulting in anything from unwanted behavior patterns to disease. Instinctively, we all know when we're closed off and when we're engaging with an open heart and mind. Stay open! Notice when your energy changes. Be aware when you start closing off or shutting down—and stop! Make the choice to keep your heart open and let whatever you're feeling flow through you. Keep your mind open to new ideas, solutions, and perspectives. If you're complaining or stuck in an old, unproductive thought pattern, stop. If you're fighting life, stop. Fighting life is the energy of pushing, pulling, clinging, or forcing. Instead, pause, breathe, and let it be. Let it go. Acceptance isn't about resignation. It's empowering to accept what is, let go of negativity and resistance, and take responsibility for what's ours (without judgment, blame, or complaining). When we do, we're flowing with life and we make better choices and changes from that energetic perspective.

4) Carry Intentions Lightly + Take Action

To live life on-purpose with intention, it's important to know what we want and take action toward it. Energetically speaking, it's equally (and seemingly paradoxically) important not to cling to our intentions. It's tricky—have a well-defined intention that energizes us, but release our attachment to the specific outcome of our effort. We do this best when we're in the zone: focused, doing our thing, in the moment, without thinking, worrying, or anticipating. It's hard to be passionate and inspired to action without forming expectations about where our action will lead. One strategy is to watch for "shoulds." When we get fixated on how something should play out, that's our mind judging and wanting to control the outcome. Logically, we all know that we can't control everything. We also know we can't sit around and expect magical solutions to appear out of thin air. Co-creating with the universe boils down to having clear intention, taking positive action, and leaving plenty of room for the Universe to work on our behalf. With infinite knowledge, possibilities, and resources, the Universe might have a better result in mind than we do. Having a "this, or something better" perspective about what we want allows us to embrace the uncertainty with optimism, to be open to possibilities that might serve us better, and to trust the universe with the details. All the while, we're also doing our part as a co-creator, taking consistent action toward our intentions.

Bottomline: Don't FAFO the Hard Way

It comes down to this: With every thought and emotion we have, every action we take, every word we use, and everything we consume, we are either consciously or unconsciously creating our reality. Everything is energy and energy needs to flow. If we’re not actively managing our energy flow, what we take in and what we put out, we’re basically leaving our lives to chance. Sure, we can FAFO with life, but “eff around and find out” is not a strategy. It’s certainly an option. It’s also a risk. Alternatively, learning how to recognize and work with the flow of energy within us and around us makes life so much easier and more enjoyable. If you want love, be loving. If you want compassion, be compassionate. If you want to be understood, be understanding. If you want abundance, appreciate the abundance already in your life, receive with gratitude, and be generous with others. Above all, trust your intuition about what's best for you and keep the good vibes flowing.

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