Investing Energy

When we spend a lot of money, most of us tell ourselves we have to go make more, and save more. On the other hand, when we spend a lot of energy, most of us go to a doctor and tell them to fix it, we "shouldn't have to live like this!" That's where the problem lies: Energy is a resource in our lives, not that different than money. We can spend it, save it, and replenish it from the outside world. And like money, if we spend it all, it's gone.

Energy is spent by physical activity, by having strong emotions, and by thinking a lot. Exercising is exhausting to the body, and a balance needs to be struck between investing energy in your health versus the wear and tear that accumulates. Strong emotions, such as anger or grief, when allowed to fester, eat away at resources without bearing any fruit. But worse than all is worry and overthinking. Not only is worry a fruitless endeavor, once you start, it is hard to talk yourself out of worrying. Anything can become an object of worry, and rationally so.

Spending money can be addictive, and so can spending energy. Many people over-exercise and justify it as being good for their health. Many people over-indulge in their emotions and feel justified in them. And many people overthink and worry, and indeed there are many things to worry about in this modern world we have created.

Overspending energy results in exhaustion and stress, which can manifest in myriad ways: depression/anxiety, fatigue, digestive disorders, menstrual disorders, tension and aches throughout the body or in one particular joint, greater allergic sensitivity, decreased immune system, insomnia, poor appetite, irritability, exacerbation of existing conditions... just to name a few.

Amazingly, a lot of symptoms simply stop or lessen just by lessening the energy expense. Learning to let go of the obsessiveness of exercise, emotion, or worry - learning to relax!

Sometimes acupuncture can seem so miraculous because one of its effects is to break the cycle of energy expense, simply allowing the body to shutdown completely for the time you are here. After a session, most report feeling relaxed in a way that they haven't felt in ages - not sleepy, just really relaxed. Once acupuncture has taken you to this level of minimal energy expense, you will be more aware of the ways you spend energy as you go back into your life. I recommend a maintenance regimen of acupuncture as part of every wellness plan!