A New Perspective on Energy

Leaves are falling, school is starting, and summer’s respite is fleeting. As a journalist’s daughter, I looked up the word “energy.” All the sources I reviewed referred to some type of work, effort, or activity. No wonder our society feels the need to be so busy! But like day can’t exist without night, neither can yang energy (the busy, doing energy we all know so well) exist without its counterpart, yin; at least not in a sustainable way. As schedule obligations increase, I invite you to explore an alternative perspective of yin energy.

In one of my favorite books, Gifts of Imperfection, Brene Brown refers to exhaustion as a status symbol. Her statement is not a hyperbole. We cram as many events in as physically possible, brag how long it’s been since we’ve taken PTO, and become almost robotic in our unquestioned bursting-at-the-seams schedules. 

And then 2020 hit and the world we knew was over, with no ability to escape to exotic places and minimal outlets of connection. As the only ways this purely yang lifestyle felt sustainable, we had to rejuvenate from our “full” life!

I by no means want to minimize the sadness, stress, and exhaustion of the pandemic itself.In yin energy, important teachers presented themselves. Humanity found  empathy – for the first time in our lives every human in this world could relate. A social uprising happened where we as a community began to speak out against injustice systems. Through the exhaustion and the pain, we realized how interconnected we all are and were reminded that life is short. 

Pre-pandemic, I signed up for Baron Baptiste’s “40 Days” not knowing what to expect. In addition to sharing and self-inquiry, you commit to practicing asana (the physical poses of yoga) for up to 90 minutes and meditate for up to 30 minutes twice a day. In my previous life, this commitment wouldn’t have been possible with my schedule. Now, in such a world of unknown, I welcomed the structure. 

For me, the pandemic was a point of self-transformation. Instead of living life to the fullest measured by how much I did –  something no longer physically possible – I measured life as living each moment intentionally. Part of that was committing to moments of stillness and reflection on a regular basis. After all, we are human beings, not human doings. 

I first felt the change physically; my stress evaporated and my vivacious spirit previously buried beneath all of my scheduled commitments came alive. I could prioritize being present and just breathe. Instead of multitasking by trying to get a work call in while walking on a nice day, I went on a walk to purely enjoy the moment and be. In these moments, I noticed the prevalence of wildlife right in my own backyard in the middle of Minneapolis, including red-wing blackbirds on the cattails at Lake of the Isles. One evening, I even saw my first muskrat that I would have missed had I not been in the present moment. 

Of course, the world opened up so I want to extend my personal challenge to you. Even if it’s not every day, even as you start scheduled commitments again, how can we prioritize a regular time for reflection, noticing, and awareness in our lives before we take action? Whatever your medium, creating this space will help us as a society to live more intentionally. It is in this space where we can explore the creative, the introspective, the being aspects of life, and through these truly live life to the fullest in every moment, even in life’s chaos. There’s no right or wrong medium, whether that be journaling, meditation, walking, or expressing yourself through an art form – only that you practice “being.”

As Baron Baptiste says, we have an opportunity to begin again at every moment. Put aside any regret, shame, or “shoulds”, and commit the next 15 minutes to yourself. I invite you to sit in quiet meditation. Afterward, in whatever medium feels best to you, reflect on the following questions:

• What would it look like to just be? 
• How would “just being” feel physically? Emotionally? Spiritually?
• What space is possible? More creativity? More introspection? More self-awareness? 
• What do you need in order to make “just being” a regular practice?

Zara Zanussi practiced yoga on and off since middle school, and deepened her practice in 2015. She recently got her 200 HR Yoga Teacher certification in the Sacred Valley of Peru through Sembrando Semillas Con Yoga. On board with anything embracing our authentic selves and reclaiming femininity, Zara is always up for an adventure. Two of her sheroes include Glennon Doyle and Brene Brown. Currently a professional strategic planning and evaluation consultant for nonprofits, Zara’s heart is very much in the arts, youth development, and education sectors. Zara serves on See Change Treble Choir’s Board of Directors as Vice President and loves to travel, be active outdoors, have meaningful conversations, and learn new things.