Why Exactly Does it Matter Where You Invest Your Energy?

Energy bank

Every morning we wake up with a certain amount of energy. As we direct our attention to various tasks and actions, we take a share from an imaginary energy bank, and we invest some of it.

To be in check of your energy, you can think about it as about investing money. Imagine that you have an account where you deposit excessive energy. For everything you do, you need to take some of the stored energy so you can invest it what you want.

Each thought has a price. The negative thoughts cost you more than positive ones. Let’s say that whenever you’re sad or helpless, you spend $500. On the other hand, when you feel joyful and relax, you earn $500 which you can later invest in something else.

The same principle works for your decisions and actions. Likewise, each of them represents the choice between spending or earning energy currency.

In fact, energy is your most valuable currency. 

This little mind trick helps to be more mindful of where you invest your energy. Realize that every thought is like donating from your energy bank account.

You spend your energy when:

• you feel tired
• you have negative thoughts
• you’re upset, jealous, nervous, stressed, sad, depressed, etc.
• you live in the past or future
• you don’t believe in yourself or your dreams

You invest your energy whenever you:

• feel inspired and positive
• live in the present moment
• uplift others (and yourself)
• find strength in the midst of hardship
• decide to follow your heart instead of fears

Where you invest your energy?

The quality of your energy investments returns to you. Hence you receive the kinds of results that are energetically aligned with what you send out. So, before you devote your energy to something, ask yourself whether you’re spending or earning energy currency.

An exercise to check your energy

You can take a piece of paper and write down your most important relationships and how you spend your days.

On the left, write down your relationships, work, children, sport, hobbies, errands, taking care of the house, meeting friends, and so on.

Right next to it, write down how much energy each activity costs you on the scale from 0 to 100%. Record the first number that comes to your mind – it’s usually correct.

Then you can quickly determine whether you have to alter some of the ways you spend time or invest your attention.

Taking energy loan

Thinking about the past is very expensive for you. It might cost you more than you have currently in your energy bank account.

When you spend all your energy, and you didn’t get any in return, you must receive it elsewhere.

These are a few most common ways how we replenish energy:

1. Drinking coffee, alcohol, energy drinks.
2. Eating quick calories in processed foods.
3. Gossiping about others (Yes, it gives an energy boost for a while, but later we have to return it. There is no innocent gossiping, you have to pay the toll each time).
4. You can unconsciously turn into energy vampire and take energy from others.
5. You take energy from your body cells which leads to premature aging.

As you may see, being in control of your energy is essential. With a little practice, you can become more mindful of where you invest your energy. When you give less attention to situations that don’t generate energy, you’ll feel more active and lively.