Health is Wealth. There are times that we want to turn back time or hit fast-forward.
Moments of despair and an uncontrollable flow of negativity take over. We complain that the weather is not up to par with the time of the year. Or when stuck in traffic without moving an inch. For some, this means flinging the usual deadly invective verbally towards an unknown “villain”.
Or others clearly point out that he or she may wish to take some refreshers on how to push the pedal to the metal.
The suffering is real, but is it necessary?
Take the whole Covid-19 situation as an example to add some fuel to the fire. We are stuck to our phones more than ever when the latest news reaches us. We get all hyped up reading which vaccine causes pimples that explode as ferociously as the most active volcano on Earth. Or which measures are now being enforced from a higher hand to see our liberties taken away temporarily.
OK, raising our voices in unison may work when Easter and Christmas fall on the same day (read: never), but the rulers of a nation still have the final say.
Nowadays, we tend to put our time, focus and energy on matters we simply cannot control. The media is flooding us with new infection statistics, graphics and trends in countries where we do not even live. We are stuck to it because we are sucked into it, and we want to ensure we can share the latest updates with those with us without looking like we have been hiding away in a remote cavern system without a mobile signal.
Where the Energy Goes
All the above examples require energy.
And it is not energy that makes you thrive or get clarity of what you want to achieve. It drains us. We are wasting energy on topics, tasks and situations we have no influence over. The weather, traffic, or the existence of an all-engulfing virus. All these worldly challenges are all out of our reach as smart-working and law-abiding citizens in a country of millions. The same goes for politics, world peace, death, and your past.
Yet we continue to do this, even when it does not make us happier.
I am no exception to the above.
I was pulled into this vortex for many years. Planning to change the world with my thoughts and decisions. It did not occur. I once filed a complaint to a resort owner about why customers did not get a refund because it rained 80% of the time. It may offer a sense of relief, but it is and remains wasted energy, because the results you wish for will not appear, they will not drive you forward as a person. It is a waste of energy that you can better use for other purposes. Happiness and personal progression are not derived from these practices.
The Circles of Control
A couple of years ago, I found a visual technique that has made me see things differently, where I consistently am made aware of what I can control. By focusing my daily energy effectively on topics I can control, what I can partially control (or influence), and matters beyond my control. This technique is called the Circles of Control and you can find some excellent examples on the internet such as the articles on www.lifehack.org and on my blog: thriveapproach.asia.
By adding keywords and phrases to each sentence, your mind gives these matters a place. It allows you to get clear on what you can truly control and what you cannot. These three overlapping circles are in a constant state of change, as I do add once in a while something new or remove something that I deem not be of great importance. And it gives you a visual of where you should expend your daily energy effectively.
By only paying attention to those matters you are in complete control of, you can eliminate the matters that you cannot change. For example, your choices of food, your hunger cues, going to the gym, you are in control. And those matters in your life you have some control over may play a role in your personal situation.
Some examples, such as your thoughts, health goals, your family, or how much you want to be exposed to a virus, are merely a few of the many.
Energy Does Not Only Come From Nutrients
We obtain energy through breathing (oxygen), the activation of your neural network (working out), or optimising your hormones, all underestimated sources that deliver energy to your body generated by your central nervous system. These sources do supply you with the energy you need, but these energy sources do not replenish your inner battery when you focus on those things that are beyond your control.
It’s hard to control my Star Wars intake. Bit of a big fan…
What I No Longer Spend Energy On
I am, as much as possible, avoiding any discussions about any pandemic or following any trends. I tend not to get upset any longer when rain is pouring down just when I was about to go for a run. And sitting in a car for six hours while for a journey that normally takes 2.5 hours is no longer something for me to spend some energy on. It is all wasted energy. I’d rather spend energy that effectively delivers for the future and is voided by negativity by using my circle of control as my anchor.
Remember, your outcries on social media about topics you cannot control will be forgotten in no time, evaporating like ice under a sweltering sun. All energy wasted. You may gain a few thumbs up, but they too will fade away without anyone giving a rat’s ass about it.
It will take some time, you will need some discipline, and I myself am not there yet. But when you set your focus on those things you can control and have influence over, it can have an enriching reward that may linger on for longer than you can imagine.
Who doesn’t want to use their daily energy effectively?