“What Zaps Your Energy? Reclaim Your Power” by Joan Y. Edwards
Stress zaps your energy. Stress can come from people, situations, thoughts, and fears. These things can put too many stressors on your body, mind, and spirit. They create unhealthy thoughts and feelings in you. Some of them seem uncontrollable…like your mind has gone zonkers in overdrive…so many feelings from sources known and also from sources unknown.
In these stress-filled times, you have to TAKE FIVE MINUTES…in a quiet place…take a walk in a quiet place…listen to calming music. Get a soft pillow or soft stuffed animal and put it in your lap (I have a Squishmallow butterfly Nixie, gift from my older daughter and her family…so very soft and cuddly. Squish the pillows in a store. Choose the one you love to hug. Imagine that pillow as a place where you can give your cares to God. By placing your hands on the pillow, you are dropping your unwanted stress into the pillow and giving it to God.
When I’m stressed, I love to get a hug from someone. Actually giving someone a hug, helps too. I think the comfort of a hug is powerful for both people in the hug. If I am very angry, I want to be an island by myself for awhile…until I cool down.
Stressful thoughts and Actions
Worrying about things you cannot change
Being afraid that certain things might happen
Fearful that things you want to happen won’t happen.
Trying to force something to happen.
Holding onto past hurts from people who are no longer in your life
Are you like me and give it to God with your right hand, and take it back to worry about with your left? Here is one of my favorite scriptures about peace:
Philippians 4:6-7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Jesus told his disciples he was going to be gone, but he was leaving the Holy Spirit with them…with us. (Galatians 5:22). The peace of the Holy Spirit brings well-being, contentment, and wholeness, whatever the circumstances which is peace.
Ways to get more energy:
Spend time with your power source: Pray. Ask God for help. Read Bible Scriptures about being at peace.
Forgive yourself and others for unhealthy expectations and beliefs.
Realize that people cannot give you what they do not have. That was eye-opening for me when I realized I was expecting things from people I loved that they couldn’t give me even though they may have wanted to. Let me explain. If you go to a grocery store and they don’t have a new Toyota to sell you, it seems silly to be upset with them. There’s another phrase that explains…you can’t get blood from a turnip. We try that at times. Very stressful and unrewarding.
Set boundaries (Use that timer.) (Distance yourself from troublesome people or things for awhile.)
If someone is draining your energy, try to limit your time around them. That can be tricky if you are living in the same house. If that’s the case, you need to figure out why and how your energy is zapped. You have to own it. You can’t blame it on someone else.
For a long time, my husband Carl would come home from work. He would be so very angry. I tried to figure out why I got angry because he got angry. After much soul-searching, I remembered what my Mother said to me seemingly a million times, “When your father comes home, don’t make him angry.” Ah! All of a sudden I figured it out. I thought I was making Carl angry. He came home and dumped his anger on me and then he didn’t have to handle it. So that evening when Carl came home. He started ranting and raving about all the bad things that happened that day. I stood there in front of him and said, “Go ahead. Get angry. Stomp your feet. Scream and holler. Throw something.”
Carl looked at me and said, “I don’t want to do any of those things.”
I said, “It’s your anger. You have to decide what to do with it.”
I explained what I had figured out about what my Mother had told me as a child. Carl admitted that he was in fact dumping the anger on me. We talked about that moment when things were different. He knew he could tell me about his anger but he couldn’t expect me to figure it out for him and hold it for him. Carl always told me I could share any learning experiences we had because he thought perhaps it might help someone else.
NHS:UK says that whatever relaxes you will improve your energy.
Take a piece of paper and write down all the things you are worrying about.
Take a piece of paper and write down all the things you are thankful for.
Go to bed at a regular time every night. Get up at a regular time. Like when you first awaken after daylight in the morning. Have plans for fun things to do first thing in the morning and before you go to bed at night to keep you looking forward to the day. Remember “This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad it is.”
Watch a positive thinking video. Here are two I found very helpful.
Positive Revolution. “Lessons in Positive Thinking:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMre9L3K780
Drink more water.
Eat more protein; fewer high carbs. High carbs may drop your energy levels quickly. Proteins give you energy that lasts longer. (Snack on nuts, cheese, high protein drinks, less caffeine)
Take a walk around your house and through your neighborhood.
Get in the car and go to a park to find 3 things that make you smile.
Listen to music.
Read a good book.
Spend time with friends.
Eat breakfast, lunch, or supper with a friend.
Make a zoom or Facetime call to a friend. Seeing their face will make you smile.
Take a nap. Before taking it, make plans for what you will do for fun when you get up.
Make a list of 10 or more things that are fun for you.
Now do one of those 10 things.
If something stressed you out, ask God to enlighten you as to why it was stressful. Did you expect more of yourself than humanly possible?
Sometimes getting a small chore done that you’ve been putting off will fill you with unexpected joy.
Resources
Arise Counseling and Coaching. “10 Ways to Reclaim Your Energy and Your Life:” https://arisecounselingandcoaching.com/blog/10-ways-to-reclaim-your-energy-and-your-life/
Glitter Guide. “Ten Mood-Boosting Houseplants:”http://theglitterguide.com/2021/03/18/mood-boosting-plants/
Joan Y. Edwards. “Accountability Corner”
https://joanyedwards.com/accountability-corner/
Joan Y. Edwards. “Accountability Corner – Step 2 – Project Ideas:” https://joanyedwards.com/accountability-corner-step-2-project-ideas/
Joan Y. Edwards. “Accountability Corner – Step 3 – Your Weekly Project Plan:” https://joanyedwards.com/accountability-corner-step-3-your-weekly-project-plan/
Joan Y. Edwards. “Celebrate You:” https://joanyedwards.com/celebrate-you/
Joan Y. Edwards. “Don’t Tell God How Big Your Problem Is; Tell Your Problem How Big Your God Is (Author Unknown):” https://joanyedwards.com/dont-tell-god-how-big-your-problem-is-tell-your-problem-how-big-your-god-is-author-unknown/
Joan Y. Edwards. “Here Is a New Remote Control to Set Your Mood: https://www.joanyedwards.com/here-is-a-new-remote-control-to-set-your-mood/
Shaun Blakeney, Wallace Henley. “Energy Zappers: Dealing with People Who Drain Your Energy: https://www.amazon.com/Energy-Zappers-Dealing-People-Drain/dp/0801068010
Today Devotional. “The Holy Spirit and Peace:” https://todaydevotional.com/devotions/the-holy-spirit-and-peace
Valeo Training. “10 Energy-Zappers to Eliminate:” https://valeotraining.com/10-energy-zappers/
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Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards, Author
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