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Managing Your Energy

Managing Your Energy

Managing Your Energy – Making Intentional Choices About Where to Spend It

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to forget that our energy is a finite resource. Unlike time, which ticks on regardless, our energy ebbs and flows. 

Life can throw us all over the place, like being onboard a ship in rough seas. But, when we’re intentional about where we spend it, we feel more balanced, fulfilled, and focused on what truly matters. 

But for many, especially those of us who are neurodiverse, this process is more complex. We’re constantly picking up on extra information around us, which can be both enriching and exhausting.

Recognising Your Energy “Bank”

Think of your energy like a bank account. Just as you might budget your finances, it’s essential to budget your energy. 

Each interaction, task, and even environment has an “energy cost,” which can differ for everyone. 

When we become aware of what drains us and what replenishes us, we can make intentional choices about where to invest our energy.

Here are some helpful questions to start with – you might like to journal on these.

  • What activities or people make me feel energised? Whether it’s engaging in a hobby, talking with certain friends, or spending time outdoors, recognising these energisers can help you build them more consistently into your routine.
  • What drains my energy most? Pay attention to situations or interactions that leave you feeling depleted, and consider if you can minimise or balance them.
  • How does my energy feel throughout the day? Noticing when your energy rises and dips can help you to structure your day in a way that makes the best use of your natural rhythms.

Tips for Managing Your Energy

Once you know what affects your energy levels, you can make small adjustments so that you are intentionally protecting and managing it. 

Here are a few techniques that work especially well for neurodiverse individuals:

  1. Set Boundaries to Avoid Information Overload
    News, social media, and even the everyday bustle of public spaces can be overwhelming. Give yourself permission to step back from sources of overstimulation and create small “retreats” of quiet whenever possible.
  2. Practice Grounding Techniques
    Grounding exercises like deep breathing, short meditations, or even sound healing can help recalibrate your mind and body. These moments bring you back to the present and help you recharge quickly.
  3. Embrace a ‘Less is More’ Mentality
    Instead of filling your day with endless to-dos, focus on two or three things that are most important to you. By reducing decision fatigue and honing in on priorities, you’ll conserve mental and emotional energy.
  4. Recharge with Nature
    Spending time outdoors or even just taking a few minutes to breathe fresh air can help clear your mind and replenish your reserves. Whether it’s a walk in the garden or a full day in nature, connecting with the Earth is an incredibly restorative experience.
  5. Use Intentional Rest Periods
    Rather than waiting until you’re exhausted to take a break, try planning intentional rest periods throughout your day. Even five minutes to stretch or close your eyes can make a world of difference.
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Energy is precious, and learning to manage it wisely allows us to live with greater joy, intention, and connection.

By prioritising your own wellbeing, you’ll not only feel more grounded but also have more to give to the things and people that matter most.

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Building Joy In Your Life

Building Joy In Your Life

Hey there, lovely souls! Let’s talk about joy!

For me, joy is essential, more important than good health – as from my experience, it overrides everything.

Picture this…

It’s a bright, sunny day, and you’re strolling through a meadow, surrounded by the vibrant colours of blooming flowers. 

Suddenly, a warm sensation fills your chest, spreading through your body like a gentle wave. Your heart feels full and overflowing, a smile spread across your face, you can feel your eyes twinkling as they take in all the beauty around you.

That, my friends, is joy – the pure, unadulterated bliss that lights up our lives and makes every moment sparkle with possibility.

So, what exactly is joy? 

It’s more than just a fleeting emotion; it’s a state of being, a profound sense of happiness that resonates deep within us. 

Joy is more than that, it comes from deep within – your soul, your true self.

It isn’t just about external circumstances – although they can trigger your awareness of it.

Joy gloriously brings peace and contentment, guiding your heart, mind and hand in all you do.

 

Close your eyes for a moment and tune into your body. Can you feel it? That bubbling sense of excitement in your chest, the tingle of anticipation running down your spine – that’s joy, my friends, and it’s a feeling worth chasing.

How is it different from happiness?

Before we delve deeper into the essence of joy, let’s take a moment to distinguish it from happiness. While the words “joy” and “happiness” are often used interchangeably, they hold distinct meanings that merit exploration. 

Let’s have a look at the differences.

Joy —

  • Is a profound sense of happiness that resonates deep within us
  • Is a state of being, not just a fleeting emotion
  • Comes from deep within – from your soul, your true self
  • Is more about internal contentment and peace rather than external circumstances
  • Is often associated with a sense of fulfilment and purpose

Happiness —

  • Is generally a transient emotion based on external factors
  • Tends to be more fleeting and dependent on specific events or experiences
  • Can be influenced by external circumstances, such as achieving a goal or receiving positive feedback
  • Is often linked to pleasure, satisfaction, or gratification in the moment
  • May fluctuate depending on changes in external conditions

As you can see, while happiness may be fleeting and dependent on external circumstances, joy emerges as a steadfast companion, rooted deeply within the soul. 

Understanding this distinction allows us to embrace the full spectrum of human emotion, paving the way for a more profound sense of contentment and fulfilment in our lives.

Now, you might be wondering, why is joy so important? 

In my opinion, joy is like fuel for the soul. 

It energises us, uplifts us, and infuses every aspect of our lives with positivity. 

When we’re in a state of joy, we’re more creative, more resilient, and more open to the beauty of the world around us.

Joy can help us get through tough times, even health challenges. In fact, I attribute my recovery from my very serious health challenges to having a strong sense of joy.

It can keep us strong, centred and focused ahead, regardless of what’s happening around us.

 

And let’s face it, life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, is it? 

We all have our moments of darkness, times when joy seems like a distant memory.

So how do we find our way back to that place of bliss when the clouds roll in?

Firstly, it’s essential to recognise when joy is missing from our lives. 

Pay attention to how you feel – are you constantly tired, irritable, or uninspired? 

These could be signs that joy is in short supply. 

Once you’ve identified the problem, it’s time to take action.

Here are some powerful tools…

Sounds for Joy

Whether it’s through a sound healing session, chanting, or simply listening to the sounds of nature, sound has a profound impact on our emotional well-being. 

Find somewhere to lie down or sit quietly and comfortably. Close your eyes. Focus on hearing all the sounds you can hear from far away – as far as you can hear. Listen for a few minutes, then tune into what is a bit closer. Again, listen for a few minutes, then shift your awareness even closer. Keep going until you are listening to your breathing. Then take it inside you – what can you hear inside your own body?

As you bring your focus back to your surroundings, jot down the sounds that you found pleasant.

In this way, you can experiment with different sounds and vibrations until you find what resonates with you and lifts your spirits.

Practise Gratitude

Take a moment each day to reflect on the things you’re thankful for – no matter how small. 

I believe in the power of writing things down. 

And writing down what you are grateful for can also be something uplifting to read when you are feeling down in the dumps. Bonus!

Once you have written what you are grateful for, the next step is to read them one at a time, pause and feel gratitude and joy for each of them. Truly stop and feel the gratitude and notice how it spreads into joy. 

Gratitude has a magical way of shifting our perspective and opening our hearts to the abundance of joy that surrounds us.

Regularly exploring healing sounds and practising gratitude can reveal their tangible impact on our emotional state, offering actionable pathways to reignite joy in our lives.

And finally, don’t be afraid to seek support. 

Sometimes there’s a cap on what we can do by ourselves – and that is when it is great to reach out to get the support that you need, whether it’s a sound healing session, booking in for a life coaching series, getting therapy, or simply talking to a trusted friend.

Reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Remember, you don’t have to navigate this journey alone.

 

So, my dear friends, I invite you to embrace joy with open arms. 

Let it fill your heart, nourish your soul, and light up your world with its radiant glow. Because when we choose joy, we choose life – in all its beautiful, messy, glorious splendour.

 

Until next time, shine bright and keep spreading those rays of joy wherever you go!

Warmest wishes,

Lucinda

Embrace Your Inner Strength

Embrace Your Inner Strength

Embracing Your Inner Strength

Hey there! Today I want to explore ways to embrace your inner strength. Let’s dive in.

 

Have you ever felt like you’re floating downstream, carried along by the currents of life without much say in the matter? 

It’s a common feeling, one that often leaves us feeling powerless and adrift. But here’s the thing – you have more power than you realise. 

It’s time to reclaim it and step into your true strength.

With many clients that I’ve worked with over the years, there are times that they’ve felt completely overwhelmed and like life is out of their control. I’ve experienced this too. 

For my client Joe, it seemed like no matter what he did, he couldn’t catch a break, and he started to lose sight of who he truly was. When he relayed this in-session, he realised that he had been giving away his power – allowing external circumstances to dictate his happiness and sense of self-worth.

It’s Time To Stop Giving Away Your Power

Let’s start by defining it.

What does it mean to “give your power away”? 

Simply put, it’s when we allow outside influences to control how we think, feel, and act. Whether it’s seeking validation from others, comparing ourselves to unrealistic standards, or allowing fear to hold us back, giving away our power diminishes our sense of agency and autonomy.

We do this in many ways – and one of the most common ways is asking everybody for their advice. Another way is scrolling through social media and letting comparisons get the better of us. This can also see “imposter syndrome” creep in.

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There is a way out of this cycle. 

The first step is recognising when we’re falling into the trap of giving away our power. 

How? I hear you ask.

Pause and pay attention to how you feel in different situations.

  • Do you feel empowered and in control?
  • Do you feel helpless and overwhelmed? 

By tuning into our emotions and our bodies (even if it is just the flutter of a sensation from within), we can begin to identify patterns of behaviour that are holding us back.

If you aren’t sure what you are feeling, I invite you to tune into the sensations of expansion and contraction.

Here’s a quick exercise to help build this awareness –

Sit quietly. Take a few slow breaths. Place your hands on your heart to bring your attention to this area. Now bring to mind a situation or scenario. Notice if your heart feels expansive (opening, getting bigger, warm are some sensations you might feel) or is it contracting (tightening, getting smaller, making you curl over)?

Repeat this exercise with other scenarios.

The more you do it, the quicker it will  be for you to identify whether you are feeling empowered or overwhelmed.

The Power Within

My question for you is: Do you believe that you have control over the events in your life?

The extent that you feel you can shape your own life is referred to as your “locus of control” (a concept developed by Rotter in 1954).

Those with an internal locus of control believe they have the power to influence their circumstances.

While those with an external locus of control believe that external forces determine their fate.

If you believe that you have some “control” over what happens in your life, you may be more motivated to go for what you want, rather than sit back and wait to see what lands in your lap.

I see there is a blend of empowerment and courage within an internal locus of control because it requires you to reach for what you want and be proactive in your life.

 

So, how can we reclaim our power? 

It starts with cultivating a sense of inner calm so that we can become aware of our inner wisdom – that deep, intuitive knowing that guides us on our journey. 

Practices like sound healing and life coaching can be powerful tools for connecting with this inner wisdom, helping us tap into our innate strength and resilience.

Cultivating Your Inner Strength

Here are some practices which I’ve found particularly helpful (for myself and my clients) – what I call a “Humming Meditation” and “Aware Breaths.”

Humming Meditation

Sit quietly and soften your gaze.

Take a few deep slow breaths in and out.

Begin to hum – at whatever volume and pitch that you like. Hum for a few minutes – you could start with 2 minutes and build up to 8-10 minutes.

While you are humming, become aware of where in your body you are feeling it. Are your lips buzzing? Or perhaps you can feel it in your chest? Or your throat? Or somewhere else?

When you finish humming, sit in the quietness and notice where in your body you are feeling the remnant vibrations.

Aware Breaths 

If you are out and about, or even at work, you can snatch a few moments to breathe with awareness – I call them “Aware Breaths.”

All you need to do is just slowly inhale to a count of 4. Pause. Then slowly exhale to a count of 6. Pause. Repeat.

It is great to do this for 3+ breaths, but even one can make the world of difference. 

It is truly amazing how quickly Aware Breaths can shift how you feel.

Reminder

Remember, you are the author of your own story, and you have the power to create the life you desire.

I encourage you to embrace your inner strength and reclaim your power. 

Trust your intuition, listen to your heart, and know that you are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to. 

Shine bright and never forget the incredible power that resides within you.

 

In love and light,

Lucinda