Becoming Aware of How Life Force Leaks Away From Us Unnecessarily
Today my wife and I planted a cinnamon tree in our garden. We purchased it at a nursery and it is approximately ten feet (3½ meters) tall! The roots were bundled tight in a burlap sack to restrict their growth while it was awaiting someone to come and claim it. Digging the hole, cutting the burlap sack and planting the tree into the earth, allowing the roots to expand without restrictions, all this felt nourishing. Its rich potential can now be fully realized. I look forward to watching it grow.
As I was pondering what to write for this month’s topic, I realized a similarity between ourselves and the cinnamon tree. We too have our roots bundled and confined, but not with burlap, with limited consciousness. What can we do to release our full potential, for we are plugged into the matrix of all existence, and so much is available to us? One very effective method that is incredibly overlooked is to increase the life force we have available to us.
All living things, plants, animals, insects and human beings draw life force from the cosmic reservoir naturally and without awareness. It just happens, and is a part of being alive. The life force that nurtures the cinnamon tree is the same life force that fuels the barking dog and allows the grasshopper to leap in the field. It is the force and energy that maintains life in all things. It exists everywhere and in abundance. While invisible and undetectable by human senses, its existence has been well documented by various mystery schools and is known by many different names. The term “Life Force” is one of those names, and it is what I will call it as I explore the potential of harnessing this incredible substance.
We can enhance our life immeasurably by first becoming aware of this Life Force, and secondly by increasing the flow into our being. Our mind and body are constantly being regenerated and revitalized by this great life-essence, which circulates throughout the cosmos. This life force reaches all, supplying animation to all, tying all things together in one dynamic wash of ever-flowing renewing energy. This river of energy is flowing all around us and in it “we live and move and have our being.”
Each of us receives a minimum amount just by being alive and human, but the amount of life force each individual receives varies greatly and is affected by a number of factors, which I intend to explore over the next several months.
Let me say at the beginning of our examination of this fascinating aspect of human existence that it is possible to draw directly from the great cosmic reservoir of undifferentiated energy and to increase our intake. When we do, this energy is transmuted within our being into all the different forms of activity that go to make up a human life.
If our vital energy goes up, every factor of our nature is quickened and intensified; the artist paints with new power and inspiration, the insight of the scientist is doubled, the skill and strength of the athlete increased, the savvy decisions and actions of the entrepreneur work like magic – whatever we are becomes intensified.
The amount of this energy we access is limited solely by our capacity for realization. If we can increase our realization and get rid of our inhibitions and leakages, we correspondingly increase our cosmic energy. With increasing energy there comes increasing vitality, mental capacity and grace. If we have life problems to work out (and who doesn’t), our increased vitality gives us more energy and courage with which to deal with them. Our increased mental capacity gives us increased insight, which reflects in our choices and actions.
Now that we understand the potential of increased life force, our task becomes to explore both the ways to increase the life force, and the ways it is decreased and leaks away from us. The point of this exploration is to enter an alchemy process of drawing in and retaining this increased life force. As we succeed in this process, we will become aware of a change within ourselves, and we’ll be amazed at how clear and aware we become. We will also notice how effective our actions are in manifesting our desires.
Ways and Methods of Increasing Life Force
1. Awareness
Spend several minutes every day contemplating the great cosmic reservoir of undifferentiated force that exists all around us. Imagine yourself plugged into this matrix, and that all that stops you from accessing this power is your own realization of it.
This process is as simple as breathing itself. In fact, as you breathe in, you can imagine life force entering you. Contemplate the fact that the source of your being is in this ever-outpouring infinite energy. With daily meditation, the concept of life force will shift from the conceptual to a conviction of its existence. This is the first step. Making it real. We can work with unseen forces, but only when we genuinely conceive of their existence as real can we gain their true power. This conviction comes with meditation and contemplation. So if you want to be active in this process of increasing your realization, your task for the month is to re-read this topic several times so you understand exactly what I’m sharing with you and to spend several minutes “thinking about” life force.
2. Fun and Joy
When we’re having fun, and when we’re joyful, this naturally increases our flow and intake of Life Force. This in itself should teach us an important lesson. Fun and joy are not frivolous activities, but activities that augment and supply vital energy to our total being.
It is not by chance that one of the practices in my book, The Practice of Happiness, is fun and joy. I want to quote a few paragraphs from this chapter, as they clearly reinforce what I’m saying.
“Having fun daily, even if it’s only for a few minutes, is a life-affirming practice. It’s also a powerful symbol to our subconscious. It is saying I am worthy. Life is good. Even small amounts of fun every day can have a profound effect. We must be diligent in taking time to nourish ourselves. If no matter how busy we are, we still have the wisdom to take time for ourselves, we will be well compensated. Don’t be fooled by pressures and responsibilities; they will wait for you. We set the agenda for our life, and in our agenda, there must always be time for fun.”
“We need to renew our spirit regularly. A busy life necessitates it. We’ve become too full of activities. Too serious. Too adult. No wonder kids often think we’re dull and boring. In many ways, that’s what we’ve become. We should get back to our roots and instincts. Bring in more balance. We need to have more fun, and to do so we have to be more creative and spontaneous; to seize the opportunities life presents us whenever and wherever we find them.”
3. Maintaining the Body
Our body is the outer temple and vehicle by which we experience life. It should come as no surprise that the condition of our body has a noticeable effect on how we think and feel. Being aware of this can help us immeasurably.
For example, notice your energy level when you’re sick and lying in bed, as opposed to when you’re fit and healthy. There is a big difference. So the question becomes, how do we achieve and maintain a body that is healthy, fit, and an open receptacle for increased life force? This is far different from the neurotic preoccupation with having the perfect body and trying to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger or a wafer-thin model. The key is to ask yourself: “What makes me feel good?” and “What practices nourish me?” Trust your own feelings of wellness and aliveness.
For example, when I’m on tour, it is easy to eat “fast foods” on the run because they are quick and convenient. However, I’ve noticed over the years that when I do eat like this for a few days, I suffer. I feel sluggish and my energy drops, so I generally avoid them. Not because I don’t like the taste, which I do, but because I don’t like what they do to me.
I know that when I walk up and down stairs rather than take an elevator when I’m going to the second or third floor, I feel good.
I also know that when I have a regular workout session at my gym, I feel better. I try to be aware of how I am feeling and what makes me feel that way. If you want to feel great and alive and in top form, watch and monitor your energy.
Yoga, Tai Chi, massage, exercise, sports, physical activity, nutritious and moderate eating are but a few practices that will up your energy and increase life force.
4. Positive Thought
Maintain your inner temple with high-quality thoughts. Mind Power students know the importance of monitoring and directing their thoughts for success and happiness. From an energy perspective, this is also true. You attract more life force when you’re thinking positive thoughts. Think about it: How do you feel when you’re thinking positive as opposed to negative thoughts? Is there a difference in energy?
“How do I feel?” is always a good monitor to track your energy. This way you can notice what ups your energy and what drops it.
Thoughts of compassion, love, hope, faith and enthusiasm up your energy. Make a decided effort to think positively. Expect the best outcomes for you and others. Let your positive nature nourish you. Not only will you benefit, but everyone who comes in contact with you will gain from it as well.
5. Success Vibration
Success in any area of our life augments and increases life force. This fact is quite revealing. It means that nature has designed us in such a way to encourage us to be successful. We are wired for success. Success is not simply an achievement, but a process that manifests life force for the individual. We are called to be successful.
Creating a success vibration will increase your life force. Here we can use the Acknowledging technique with great results. Make a list of all the things that make you feel good and successful about who and what you are NOW. Practice vibrating success as an exercise every day. Again, how do you feel when you vibrate success? The answer to this reveals something very important.
Practice these five techniques regularly and your life force will increase dramatically, and all aspects of your life will improve.
Negative Thoughts and Emotions That Block Life Force
Each of us receives/absorbs a certain minimum amount of this mysterious life force each moment of each day, just by being alive. This flow of life force is what gives us life, insight, and consciousness. Without it, we would die. When our life force is increased, it flows into all aspects of our being. We become more astute, clear, and able to function at a high level of excellence. When we are “in the flow,” feeling and performing well, it usually is an indication that our life force levels are high.
Conversely, when our life force is low, when it leaks away, every aspect of our being is affected. Understanding this, the intelligent person becomes aware of not only what increases life force, but what decreases it as well. This way the astute person can promote and practice the methods that increase, and avoid those activities that decrease life force. Becoming aware of this ebb and flow of life force within us will make a huge difference in how we live our life. With practice, we will naturally adopt good life force habits.
Our life force is intimately connected to our thoughts and emotions. Negative thoughts hinder the flow of life force, and these we must beware of. The main negative thoughts and emotions to look out for are those connected to guilt, hate, self-pity, fear and worry. All these always drain life force from us. Let’s briefly examine these emotional states:
Guilt
Each of us has incidents in our life where, if we were to relive them, we would probably do things differently. This is only natural. We are all human. As the old saying goes, “To err is human; to forgive divine.” To be human is to make mistakes. No one is immune. No one is perfect. If you let go of your past mistakes and errors in judgement, learning whatever lessons need to be learned from that experience, then this is healthy. Unfortunately many of us beat ourselves up over and over again over past mistakes. To hold yourself responsible in this way and to live with guilt daily is to be trapped in the past. This vicious cycle of self-abasement cuts off life force and weakens us.
Hate
One of the most toxic energy substances and to be avoided at all costs. Hate, whether it be self-hate or directed towards another, almost always causes serious illness to those individuals who foolishly indulge in its cesspool energy. I don’t care how justified you feel you are in hating another individual, you do so at your own risk. Think about how you feel when you hate. Take a minute right now and spend 60 seconds thinking about someone you dislike. Really get into it and hate that person for a full 60 seconds, and then observe how you feel when you’re finished. Why would you ever want that energy in you on a regular basis? Be aware that the person you are hating is not adversely affected by your hate – you are.
Self-Pity
Every life has things to be happy about and things to be unhappy about. If you want to feel sorry about yourself, you only have to look at your life to discover many reasons to be unhappy. Likewise if you want to feel gratitude for what is happening in your life, there are many reasons to be thankful. It’s your choice how you perceive your life. If you choose self-pity, and you have the right to choose it, self-pity will cause unhappiness.
I’m not suggesting that we go around trying to be happy every moment of every day. Nor am I suggesting a Pollyanna perspective that ignores the sometimes-harsh realties of our life. No life is ideal. We all have crises and issues that are unpleasant. If you want to feel depressed or indulge in self-pity, why not give yourself an afternoon and really get into it. Sometimes this can act as a healthy release, so go ahead, wallow in your misery, feeling how truly rotten and miserable your life is. Then, when you’re finished, let go of your misery and move on. But to indulge daily in self-pity will make it a habit that will leak life force from you.
Fear and Worry
Fear and worry are mind power techniques in reverse. Whatever you fear and worry about you attract. I know that’s unfair, but it is the truth and law of our being. Avoid the bad habits of fear and worry. Train your mind to focus on what you want to happen, rather than imagining what you don’t want happening. It’s so obvious and simple, and yet many people fall into these bad mental habits and suffer the consequences both internal and external.
As a practitioner and student of Mind Power, you know how to think and create using your thoughts. In understanding life force you have an added reason to be aware of your thoughts. We now realize that not only do negative states of mind affect our success, but also our wellness and ability to perform at our best. Our very essence and being is affected by how we think and feel. So here is what I suggest you do. Start working daily with life force. Take an inventory of your strengths and weaknesses from a life force perspective. What practices do you regularly do that increase it? Where does it leak away? What changes can you make?
Practice noticing what adds to your life force and what decreases it. Get to know yourself well. Experiment with new ways to increase life force. Eliminate the ways that decrease it. Notice how you “feel” when you do these methods. Each of us is different and has different strengths and weaknesses. With practice, you will develop a system that suits you. The goal of course is to increase and maintain a high level of energy and life force. Doing so on a regular basis will add to our life immeasurably.
