Recharging internal energy systems: 4 Cylinders Exercise

One energy system: four energy banks

Our mind, heart, body and spirit make up one system in which continuous energy-trades happen, without us necessarily being aware. When things are going well, our system is balanced with each part having enough energy to support us. However, as we put increasing pressure on the overall system to perform, we often force energy depletions. If you ever pushed yourself to work through the weekend or sacrificed a few nights of sleep to look after a sick child, you will immediately recognise this.

When our different energies are not given sufficient time to recharge, our system as a whole can become so depleted, that there is nowhere left to borrow from.

This is often what happens when people reach burnout!

Energy Cylinders Exercise: How to Manage Your Vital Life Force

This exercise is an adopted version from an activity I have first published in my first book Get Productive!

Used regularly it will help you gain vital awareness of the energy you have to hand, thus helping you avoid depleting your reserves.

Part 1: At my best

Think about a time when you felt at your absolute best. This may be in connection with something specific you achieved that felt energising and left you fully recharged or the way you felt because you were fully recharged.

As you recall this moment or state, notice the following:

• Mind – what thoughts were going through your mind?
• Heart – what emotions dominated within?
• Body – how did your body feel?
• Spirit – did you feel “on purpose” and if so what did this mean for you?

Imagine that each of these parts was an energy bank.

Using the format below indicate the level of energy that each of your four key parts – mind, heart, body, and spirit – had at this moment out of 100%?

Mind%  ____  Heart %____    Body% ____ Spirit% ____

Part 2: When things are less than ideal

Bring to mind a time when you felt small, low and disempowered in some way. Perhaps something you attempted or tried for did not turn out as well as you had wished. As in part 1, note what happened to each part respectively? Also, jot down the energy levels that each part had at the time. Follow your gut instinct.

For example, you may have tried to run a half- marathon, but the night before the race your partner broke up with you. At the starting line, you felt sluggish and emotionally dejected but chose to run anyway, in part to forget the pain of your separation. It is easy to understand how, in such circumstances, it is very likely that none of the four parts of you would be working at 100 percent.

• Mind – what thoughts were going through your mind in this situation?
• Heart – what emotions dominated?
• Body – how did things feel in your body?
• Spirit – did you feel “on purpose” and if not what did you feel instead?

Let’s capture the energy banks in this situation:

Mind%  ____  Heart %____    Body% ____ Spirit% ____

Part 3: This moment

Turn your attention to the present moment and assess your current energy levels.

Mind%  ____  Heart %____    Body% ____ Spirit% ____

Part 4: Importance of self-care and purposeful refueling

Now consider something you actually need to achieve or complete either imminently or very soon. Given your present energy levels (Part 3), are you up to the task?

You may wish to ask each part – mind, heart, body, and spirit – to tell you how they feel or what is missing.

• Mind – what thoughts show up as I contemplate this task?
• Heart – what emotions dominate?
• Body – what’s happening in my body?
• Spirit – do my plans support my best self or take me closer towards being my full potential?

This will help surface key insight and ideas for how to stay resourced and whole. All you have to do is implement them. Want to know how, check out my second book the Grid.