Hey there, wellness warriors and aspiring yogis! In a previous post (read here), I discussed the top 3 physical energy drainers. But have you ever found yourself bogged down by an invisible force, sapping your motivation and leaving you feeling as dull as a rainy day? Today, we’re busting the top three psychological energy zappers that might be secretly playing havoc with your zest for life. But fret not, because as a trained Hatha Yoga teacher and wellness coach, I, Nada, am here with the keys to kick these energy zappers out of your life!
! The ideas in this blog should not replace medical advice or diagnosis. It is recommended to consult with a mental health professional for a thorough evaluation and appropriate treatment.
1. Anxiety – Soothe It with Hatha Yoga and Meditation
Let’s start with the biggie – anxiety. It comes in various flavors – restlessness and irritability, difficulty concentrating, worry, negative self-talk, or relentless rumination. These pesky intruders are experts at chewing away at your psychological vitality and leaving you feeling drained and overwhelmed.
Anxiety isn’t just about the mental and emotional strain. It can also manifest physically, causing symptoms like headaches, sleep disturbances, and even gastrointestinal problems. Over time, chronic anxiety can take a significant toll on your overall wellbeing and quality of life.
Now, let’s talk about the good news – your antidotes to anxiety – Classical Hatha Yoga and Meditation that I offer here, in Clearwater, Florida, based on the teachings of Sadhguru, founder of the Isha Foundation and Isha Yoga Center.
The practices, rooted in conscious breathing and mindful movements, help regulate your body’s stress response, making them a powerful ally in combating anxiety.
At the heart of these practices is also the principle of self-discovery. As you learn to relax, become more still, and gain more mastery over your body, these practices will help you quiet your mind, become aware of the content of your thoughts, and pull you away from believing them. By training yourself to be an observer of your thoughts, rather than being swept away by them, you learn to navigate through anxious feelings rather than being consumed by them. You become empowered to let the thoughts pass by like clouds in the sky, without latching onto them.
As a wellness coach, I can also assist you in this process through psychosomatic techniques.
You learn to navigate through anxious feelings rather than being consumed by them.
2. All Work, No Play, and the Burnout Beast – Tame it with Mindful Living
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to find ourselves in the throes of a work-life imbalance, with our to-do lists becoming our masters and “me” time slipping down the priority ladder. The constant striving to reach goals, ticking off tasks, and the relentless busyness can lead us straight into the jaws of burnout.
Burnout, the grim consequence of work-life imbalance and taking everything too seriously, is a notorious energy zapper. It leaves you feeling exhausted, both mentally and physically, and can often lead to feelings of cynicism and detachment. Burnout isn’t just an enemy of your energy and productivity; it can have a detrimental impact on your overall wellbeing and happiness.
Moreover, many identify busyness as a measure of self-worth, and this can create an unhealthy mindset, leaving little room for joy, relaxation, or even self-reflection. The incessant need to ‘do’ can distract us from what truly matters – to ‘be,’ to be present in the moment, to enjoy life’s simple pleasures, and to nurture ourselves.
As a trained Hatha Yoga teacher and wellness coach, I believe that the antidote to this imbalance lies in mindful living, in breaking free from the shackles of endless ‘doing’ and embracing the joy of ‘being.’
Hatha Yoga and Meditation, with its emphasis on mindful movements and breath awareness, encourages you to ground yourself in the present moment and help you cultivate a mindful approach towards your daily tasks. It’s not about rushing to the next pose or next task, but about anchoring yourself in the now, cherishing each breath, each posture, and recognizing the joy and peace that lies therein.
As a wellness coach, I can also guide you in establishing routines that honor both your professional and personal life, nurturing your interests, and encouraging continuous fun and novelty.
Let’s tame the burnout beast together! Let’s create that balance, reclaim our energy, and step into a life that is meaningful.
The antidote to this imbalance lies in mindful living, in breaking free from the shackles of endless ‘doing’ and embracing the joy of ‘being.’
3. Destination Syndrome – Overcome it with Process-Oriented Living
The compulsion to sprint towards the finish line, eyes fixed on the end goal, forgetting to relish the journey. Destination Syndrome – it’s a state we can all relate to. While being goal-oriented can be a positive trait, exclusively focusing on the end results can transform into a potent energy zapper.
“I can’t start my hobby or business until my kids are grown up and independent.”
“I won’t be satisfied career wise until I become a manager.”
“I won’t be happy until I am independent and make good money.”
“I won’t be happy until I can leave this job.”
“I am not satisfied with my sadhana until I experience something extraordinary.”
This destination-focused mindset often leads to feelings of anxiety, impatience, and disappointment, especially when things don’t go according to plan. It can create a sense of disconnection from the present, where the ‘now’ merely serves as a steppingstone to the ‘then.’ This rush to achieve can rob us of the joy, learning, and personal growth that lies within the process itself.
Also, it’s important to remember that the ‘destination’ is not always within our control. It can be influenced by a myriad of factors, both internal and external. Obsessing over the end results can, therefore, lead to stress and feelings of helplessness when things don’t pan out as expected.
Fixed expectations are also limiting. Imagine you’re a kite soaring high in the sky, but you’re tied to a fixed point. That’s what having fixed expectations can feel like. They can clip your wings, preventing you from exploring new heights and possibilities.
Fixed expectations – be it from ourselves or others – can create a mental straitjacket, trapping us in a cycle of dissatisfaction and disappointment when reality doesn’t match up. It’s like constantly trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, and we all know how exhausting that can be!
As your wellness coach and trained Hatha Yoga teacher, I propose an antidote to this destination syndrome – a shift to process-oriented living.
…an antidote to this destination syndrome – a shift to process-oriented living.
Hatha Yoga and Meditation are fantastic tools to practice this shift in focus. Each asana, each breath is an experience, a moment of connection with your body, mind, and higher Self. It’s about learning, exploring, and growing with every step. The emphasis is on how you are doing the posture, your awareness of your breath, how every part of your body feels while in the asana, rather than perfecting the posture or what you get out of doing this asana. Yoga also promotes flexibility, not just in body, but in mind as well.
In addition, in yoga, the focus is not on an outcome, which is something outside of us. The focus is rather on our interiority. This is something we have more control of than external factors. We can always choose how we feel, how we react, how we perceive ourselves and the world outside. We can always choose more joy and peace.
With that being said, those who state “I am not satisfied with my sadhana until I experience something extraordinary” – I would say: don’t expect anything to happen because it is up to you to open-up to that experience! It is within you!
So, let’s switch gears from a goal, outcome, destination-centric life to a journey, process-focused one. Let’s celebrate each step, each moment, each breath. Let’s set intentions rather than expectations, allowing room for growth, for change, for the unexpected. Let’s nurture mindfulness, a state of active, open attention on the present and our interiority. Let’s uncover the joy and richness embedded in the process, not just the destination. Let’s go with the flow of life, welcoming each experience without the burden of preconceived outcomes. Let’s free our energy by focusing on the journey and be open to limitless possibilities!
Anxiety, all work and no play, and focusing on the destination with fixed expectations can definitely zap your energy. There are many ways to combat these energy zappers, but here I suggest cultivating mindfulness through the powerful tools of Hatha Yoga and Meditation. I am also available as a wellness coach to guide you into the right mindset and habits that will support your psychological wellbeing. Ready?
Have a question? Contact me:
407-808-1194
2 Comments
George
“ Let’s uncover the joy and richness embedded in the process, not just the destination.” love it!
Kritika
What you have said I totally agree with that, we cannot control the external situations, but we can always control our interiority.