I traveled for work for a long time and I had favorite places to run all over the country. Part of packing for a trip included anticipation of morning runs and what I would see while I was out. I remember a particular morning run in New Orleans, LA along Lake Pontchartrain. I stayed in a high-rise hotel near the lake, opened the curtains to a breathtaking sunrise with light reflecting off the lake and the windows of the buildings nearby. I went for a run. As I returned to the hotel and got on the elevator a man joined me carrying two cups of coffee in his hands.
I apologized for dripping sweat and commented about the beautiful morning sunrise. He replied that he “didn’t see anything remarkable about it because there were too many buildings in the way.” (Add a bit of sleepy grumpiness and you have the delivery). The elevator door opened, he got out and went left, I went right.
As I wound my way around and got to my hallway, I looked up to see the man walking my way. He stopped two doors down from me and went in. It struck me that he and I had the same view that morning. We each had our own perception and thoughts about it and we each generated our own personal energy to share with the world. I chose Ana. My automatic view of life generally leans into some form of Anabolic energy.
The energy we feel, and share is either Anabolic or Catabolic. Catabolic energy is like a whirling dervish that keeps us apathetic and at the effect of what comes our way. It ranges from feelings of victimization and conflict to feeling overly responsible for everything that happens to us and others. We approach life from a place of scarcity.
Anabolic energy is the uplifting, optimistic energy that keeps us open and affecting what comes our way. It ranges from feelings of compassion and peace to pure joy and passion. We approach life from a place of abundance.
Our day in and day out approach to life channels one of these two energies most of the time. We naturally lean toward sharing either a Catabolic or Anabolic energy. We all demonstrate both kinds of energy when our circumstances call for it. Both are important, both have a place.
The polar ends of Catabolic and Anabolic energy are pure sadness and pure joy.
Let’s talk about pure sadness. In this place we sit for a minute and feel the loss, grief, and disappointment, the wish for something different. We process and just ‘be’ in it. Acceptance of loss, realization that we have lost something important to us, is healthy. Accepting others comfort and love, being vulnerable, is healthy. Being the victim of a situation and moving through that is healthy. Catabolic energy with acceptance for the circumstance we are in allows us to process and pivot to healing. Setting in or living in Catabolic energy for a long time out of frustration or anger or as a life choice is unhealthy, for us and all who are around us.
Let’s talk about pure joy. We often think of this as the ideal state of being. Like sadness, moments of pure bliss are beautiful and healthy. We feel deep appreciation, we see only beauty and possibility, we thrive in the optimism and glow of just ‘being’. In this state, we also don’t easily recognize fear, danger, and other’s true state of being. Anabolic energy with the ability to engage with others who need empathy and compassion from us allows us to live real, healthy lives. Setting in pure joy all the time and ignoring the realities of the world and the needs of people around us is unhealthy for us and for the relationships we seek.
The cool thing about personal energy is that we have the strength to choose what we feel and share to our world. We run the full range of human emotions from pure sadness to pure joy. Catabolic and Anabolic energy give us room to authentically experience both. In fact, if we haven’t experienced both, we can’t make a conscious choice about the energy we share. We can’t choose the energy we want for the circumstances we are in.
Shirzod Chamaine, author of Positive Intelligence, says it another way. He refers to this choice as exercising our Sage powers. To not be at the effect of the Saboteur beliefs and perspectives that make up our automatic way of thinking and reacting. He speaks of conscious choice too.
So, what might ‘unpacking’ our circumstances look like?
First, we don’t ignore worrisome or reoccurring thoughts and fears and just think happy thoughts till we feel better. This brings temporary relief maybe, but avoidance only delays the unpacking and forward movement.
Second, we consciously choose to question and understand what worries us, to challenge its relevance in the moment. We unpack the situation or the trigger we feel. What does that thought or feeling say about us? What story does it tell? Is that story true for us today, in this moment? What are additional ways to see the situation? What else is true? Is there a more authentic story for me today?
Third, we decide how to keep that true story top of mind or handy for the next time we are triggered by thoughts that lead to beliefs that lead to unhealthy energy in the moment. Conscious and unconscious thoughts and beliefs result in energy, catabolic or anabolic energy, every time.
Core energy coaching helps clients unpack and choose which energy twin serves them best. So, what are you striving to achieve now? Are you channeling Cat or Ana? Is this energy choice serving you well?
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