Energy: The Ups, the Downs & Everything in Between 🎢
Where Do You Get All That Energy?
A lot of times, people ask me where I get my energy.
They're usually catching me first thing in the morning, when I'm energetic and raring to go. Catch me after 6:30 or 7:00 at night, though, and my battery is running low. I am no longer the Energizer Bunny!
Energy can be a fleeting thing, at least for me. One moment I'm raring to go, and the next, BOOM, the bottom drops out. And isn't it amazing how sometimes, when you really WANT energy, you don't necessarily have it?
Take yesterday, for example. I started my morning with a walk, creativity flowing and ideas bouncing around in my head. I was invigorated! From there, I plunged into a workout, saw clients, and then felt a crash coming on. And no, not the Crash Bandicoot kind. Sorry, if you know, you know! 😂
I was DONE.
So I did something I rarely do: I took a nap. And not just any nap, but one of those deep naps that you practically have to drag yourself out of. Then, wouldn't you know it? I found myself creatively flowing again, putting together my yoga sequence for Tap the Mat, with more teaching still ahead of me.
All in ONE day. What a range!
Sometimes energy is like a roller coaster. There's the anticipation as you climb to the top, the exhilaration of zooming down, and then suddenly you're getting off thinking, "Wait, it's over ALREADY?"
We spend so much time worrying about our phones getting depleted. We're always searching for that charger, making sure we have enough battery to get through the day. Yet how often do we give ourselves that same courtesy?
It's something I've been thinking about as I plan my Anchor to Audacity retreat next spring. How do we make more room for the things that recharge us, invigorate us, and make us feel alive?
The Duality of Energy
Here's something else I've been thinking about. Sometimes the very things that invigorate us can also drain us.
Take my work with my clients, for example. I derive so much energy from working with them. I'm inspired by what they bring to me, and I'm honored that they bring their joys, and sometimes their sorrows, into my little room.
We work through things with breath, movement, and activation. When I see someone walk out the door feeling better than when they walked in, that's a kind of energy I can live with.
One of my clients, let's call him Frank, is 82. Yes, he STILL works at 82! Because helping others is his passion. Much like me, he finds purpose in the work he does.
He frequently comes in completely tapped out after working all day. And I honestly can't remember a time when he's left without thanking me and saying, "I feel so much better than when I walked in the door."
That's what drives me. Even though that client ends at 6 PM, which is DEFINITELY not my most energetic time of day!
I might be physically tired, but emotionally I'm invigorated by knowing I've made a difference.
Something can take energy from you and give it back at the very same time.
Perhaps the distinction isn't always about what makes us tired, but what leaves us feeling fulfilled rather than depleted.
Strength Makes Room for Joy 💪
As we get older, our energy changes. Our bodies change. Recovery changes. And sometimes finding the motivation to move, let alone build strength, feels like another thing on an already overflowing to do list.
But here's the funny thing about movement. Sometimes you have to expend a little energy to create more of it.
How many times have you not wanted to go for that walk, pick up those weights, or get moving, only to feel so much better afterward?
Now, I'm certainly not saying to ignore your body's need for rest. Sometimes that's exactly what we need. My unexpected nap yesterday was a pretty good reminder of that! But I wonder how often we're waiting to feel energized or motivated before we begin.
Building strength isn't always joyful in the moment. Sometimes it's hard work. But the joy comes from what that strength allows us to do.
The ability to go on that hike, travel, dance, try something new, get down on the floor and play with your grandkids, and continue doing the things that make you feel alive.
We build strength so we can keep pursuing the things that bring us joy. And those moments of joy give us a pretty compelling reason to keep building strength.
The Energy of Connection
I saw another kind of energy at The Gathering this past weekend.
Seeing women take a chance, take a leap of faith, and walk into a room where they didn't necessarily know anyone, then watching them make connections... THAT'S what invigorates me. The smiles that lit up their faces when someone shared a story that resonated with them.
It's the same feeling I get sitting around a fire at a retreat. Watching people laugh, share stories, understand one another, or maybe even if they don't understand, empathize.
I've always believed that what you put out into the world comes back to you. And while life isn't always sunshine and rainbows, I try to approach things with a glass half full outlook.
Building a community where people feel comfortable being themselves, where they feel seen and heard, is something that truly fills me up.
Does hosting a gathering or retreat take an enormous amount of energy? ABSOLUTELY. But seeing those connections, the laughter, the smiles, and knowing I've helped create something meaningful?
That's worth every bit of it. ❤️
Joy Is Its Own Kind of Energy 🎶
Joy is this effervescent sort of energy. It can be evoked by music, movement, someone you care about, or sometimes the simplest things.
Music and movement have always been sources of joy for me, and DANCING combines the two, which is magical! I can be in a bad mood, put on a playlist, and completely change my outlook.
Recently, I decided to try hula dancing, and let me tell you, I am NOT a choreography sort of girl!
I'm watching the ladies around me, some of whom have grown up doing this, and their movements are so smooth and organic. And of course, there's me, being my Type A self, thinking, "I've gotta get that. I've gotta get that!"
But then I started letting those layers of perfection drift away and just having fun. Being part of a community of women, sharing the movement, the laughter, and the experience, was so powerful.
Was it perfect? NO. Was it fun? ABSOLUTELY.
And I walked out feeling ALIVE!
Sometimes giving yourself permission to be a beginner, to be a little uncomfortable, and to be less than perfect is incredibly invigorating.
And speaking of music and movement, I've got another opportunity coming up to combine two things that bring me joy!
Tap the Mat at Voodoo Brewing, November 14! 🍻
We're going to roll out our mats, enjoy some yoga, and you can DEFINITELY count on some good tunes. Because movement doesn't always have to be so serious! Sometimes it's about moving your body, having fun, and enjoying the experience.
Energy Givers and Energy Vampires 🧛♀️
With Halloween this week, let's talk about vampires. And no, not the ones who suck your blood. I'm talking about the ones who suck the energy right out of you!
We all have them. An overflowing inbox, a difficult conversation, a commitment you've outgrown, or the constant pressure to be available, productive, cheerful, and "on" all the time.
Sometimes an energy vampire is a person. Sometimes it's a habit, an environment, a thought pattern, or one of those 47 tabs open in your brain.
YEP. THAT'S ME.
Here's what I'd suggest. Make a note in your journal, jot something down on your phone, or use voice dictation. What invigorates you? What makes you feel alive? And what completely drains you?
I like to call them energy givers and energy vampires. Sometimes recognizing what sucks the energy out of you is just as important as knowing what fills you up. Eliminate a few of those vampires, and you're getting a lot more bang for your buck.
But perhaps there's a third category: the things that do BOTH.
Working with clients, writing this newsletter, creating content, and organizing events can be incredibly fulfilling, but also exhausting. Maybe it's not about eliminating everything that drains us. Maybe it's about recognizing which things are worth the energy we put into them.
And sometimes, it's about knowing when to let go, closing a few of those tabs, asking for help, or simply giving ourselves permission to rest.
Being out in nature is always one of my energy givers. Even yesterday morning, as I was walking and thinking through all of this, I looked up at the sky and could see Orion. And it brought me a little bit of peace.
No big adventure. No music. No dancing. Just a moment looking at the sky.
Sometimes the simplest things are what replenish us. ✨
Making Room for More of What Makes You Feel Alive 🌿
This is part of what I want to create with my Anchor to Audacity retreat.
An opportunity to step away from the everyday demands of life and reconnect with that sense of adventure, joy, strength, and community. To experience something new, have some fun, challenge yourself a little, or simply spend some time in nature.
I know how difficult it can be to find the time, find the money, and perhaps most importantly, let go of the guilt of doing something for yourself. But taking that time is important, too.
The goal isn't to come home with unlimited energy. It's to come home feeling a little stronger, a little more connected to yourself, and ready to tackle life with a little more zest.
Anchor to Audacity | April 9 to 11, 2027
Elohee Retreat Center | North Georgia Mountains
And maybe that's the point of all this. We don't need to be the Energizer Bunny every hour of every day, but we do need to recognize the things that make us feel alive and find ways to make room for them.
A Little Something to Think About
What are your biggest energy givers?
What are your energy vampires?
Is there something in your life that both exhausts and invigorates you?
What brings you joy, and are you making enough room for it?
Are you building the strength to keep doing the things you love?
When was the last time you gave yourself permission to recharge?
Maybe the goal isn't to have more energy simply so we can do more. Maybe it's to have the strength and desire to keep doing the things that make us feel alive.
I'd love to hear from you. Share in the comments what invigorates YOU!
Live audaciously. Age powerfully.
Amanda
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