energy
Day 1 Again: Building Momentum
I have started over again on my 21 days to create a habit project. My revised goal is to exercise for at
least 30 minutes a day, rather than run for 30 minutes a day. After forgiving myself for slacking and breaking my commitment to run - then deciding to revise my goal to include a variety of exercise types, I'm ready to go! :-D This being a human thing is quite tough and funky at times - but I'm learning that it's really about not getting wrapped up in a funk and pushing myself to keep moving.
Yesterday, I set out on a cycling quest. My friend Heather and I jumped on to one of Orange County's many amazing bike paths with the intention of riding at least 20 miles round trip. Once we got rolling, I was taken by the creek that gurgled beside the bike path and the aroma of sage baking in the summer sun.
Getting out into nature and enjoying the sea breeze wafting through the canyon was exactly what I needed. I've realized lately that staying within four walls brings out the sloth within my soul. It becomes all too easy to get stuck in front of the TV or iPad. At one point in the ride, Heather looked my way and said with a smile on her face "why haven't I been doing this for the past three years I've owned my bike?"
Why is it that so many times we choose activities that add to our suffering, small-selves rather than doing the things that bring us true joy & bring out our big-bad selves? We are happy when we stay on task - exercise - fill our minds with wisdom - stay in touch with our spirit - express ourselves truthfully...
One would think that after riding for 1 hour and forty-five minutes I would be ready to crawl into bed...but when I got home I was amp'd! I was inspired to clean the kitchen, organize my room, run to Petsmart and the market, and then come back and work on a couple projects.
Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Airlines, was recently asked what he does when he loses inspiration or becomes stagnant. His answer was simple..."I exercise." I had read this a couple weeks ago and am more convinced that he is right than ever. (There is one thing I'd like to share with Branson :-D -- I recently flew Virgin from London to Los Angeles and the seats in coach need some major improving...lack of padding and leg room made me want to lay in the aisle (regardless of how many amazing movies were at my disposal to watch) and inspired me to fly another airline on my last trip. He may need to run a few more laps on the track to solve that issue :-D There is always more room for improvement!!).
Once Heather and I reached the halfway point of our trip (which had been a gradual incline the whole way), we turned around were rewarded with a fast and furious ride back to where we came from. I was so happy that I began singing out loud a few times.
I'm learning that a life of action is rewarding on every level!
“Don't wait. The time will never be just right.” - Napoleon Hill
- Jen Engevik
Project Be Bold
5 Natural Ways to Gain Energy
1. Good Ole Sleep! Make sure that you are sleeping between 6-8 hours a night. Beware that you aren't getting too 
much sleep. Sleeping beyond 8 hours may cause you to feel sluggish throughout the day.
2. Rise Before the Sun. According to the ancient Ayurvedic science, by waking 20 minutes before the sun rises you are exposed to what they call Vata energy. Vata is referred to as the king of energies because it is responsible for light & free movement in the body. If you have ever embarked on a road trip in the early morning hours and felt an energizing flutter in your being just before the sunrise, you were experiencing the wonders of Vata energy. An amazing feeling indeed!
Once the sun rises, you experience what they call Kappa, or muscle energy. You begin to feel grounded and ready to take on the day!
3. Invest in a superfood supplement. I've been using Greens Plus for some time and am amazed at how it has affected my energy levels. I consulted with a holistic health specialist and he shared with me that a supplement like Greens Plus absorbs easily in the body -- much easier than a multivitamin. He suggested that I mix a tablespoon in with purified water or a pure juice (not from concentrate).
Your superfood of choice should be rich in chlorophyll as provided by ingredients such as spirulina, barley grass, wheat grass and algae. It should also include powerful probiotic cultures including L. Acidophilus ATCC 4356, L. Casei, L. Plantarum, L. Rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium Bifidum And Longum,Fructo-Oligosaccharides. A probiotic is an organism which contributes to the health and balance of the intestinal tract. A probiotic is also referred to as the "friendly", "beneficial", or "good" bacteria which when ingested acts to maintain a healthy intestinal tract and help fight illness and disease.
4. Exercise at Least 30 Minutes a Day. Lack of movement leads to tightness, frustration, depression and more. Don't think that you have to make the trek to the gym to get a workout. Go for a walk/run, do some exercises in your living room (squats, sit-ups, jumping jacks, lunges, yoga or pilates). Whatever you do, just get up and do it!
5. Dive into a project with everything you have. We are fueled with energy when we feel that we have completed a project and have done it well. Energy begets energy begets more energy. Have you ever had a pile of dishes in the sink and left them undone because you chose to sit on the couch and watch TV all evening? You go to bed regretting the fact that the kitchen is a mess and you feel burdened?
Had you jumped up and embarked on cleaning the dishes, the sheer thrill of seeing your kitchen counters and sink clean probably would have led you to another constructive project. And before you know it you are feeling energized, so much so that it is hard to go to bed. We are creatures who thrive off of a job well done - we were designed to use our minds and bodies to accomplish amazing things! When we fail to reach our potential, depression and feelings of worthlessness naturally follow. Fuel your creativity and make the world around you beautiful!
There are many more ways to gain energy :-D
- Spend time with those you love.
- Get out of the house and see something new & exciting.
- Travel.
- Learn something new.
- Lend help to those in need.
And the list goes on!
Make today a beautiful day!!!
- Jen Engevik of Project BE Bold
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