Susan R. Johnson MD, FAAP, 11/3/2009

A few years ago while waiting for my son at his dental appointment, I came across a magazine article that spoke about the things in our lives that enhance or deplete our energy. Here is that list along with several of my own suggestions and observations.

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ENERGY ENHANCERS

Physical Energy Enhancers

*Nutritious, vitamin and mineral packed organic fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds

*Good quality fats like coconut oil, olive oil, raw organic dairy products, avocados, pumpkin seeds, vitamin D cod liver oil, fermented foods and almonds

*Grass fed beef and free-range organic chickens and eggs

*Abundant pure water

*Light from the sun, moon, and stars

*Walking in a beautiful place

*Swimming in lakes, oceans, and rivers

*Hiking in the mountains and strolling along the beach

*Getting plenty of sleep (remember the sleep before midnight counts as double!)

*Doing things at your own pace rather than how someone else dictates them

*Dancing, singing, or playing musical instruments

*Bike riding, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and canoeing

* Relaxing movement therapies such as Tai Chi, Eurythmy, yoga

*Taking a warm bath or sauna

*Receiving a gentle massage

*Giving and receiving hugs, back-rubs, and foot-rubs

*Holding hands

*Painting, drawing, knitting, quilting, carving wood, sculpting clay
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Mental and Spiritual Energy Enhancers

*Saying YES to what is

*Spending time with friends and family who are positive and enhance your life

*Having adequate savings and maintaining a reasonable level of spending

*Maintaining a nurturing environment that is neat, clean, and organized

*Facing old conflicts and finding ways to forgive and move on

*Allowing spaces of free time in your scheduling for the unexpected

*Get more sleep (It is your connection to the spiritual world)

*Saying only what you believe to be the truth

*Doing everything with love

*Practicing gratitude

*Focusing on what you want instead of what you don't want

*Focusing on what you have instead of what you don't have

*Saying no to anything that goes against your values and integrity

*See your own gifts and bless the gifts in others

*Listening to and following your inner guidance

*Spending time in nature

*Having Fun, laughing at yourself and at life

*Praying, meditating, taking moments to still your thoughts

*Identify your dreams and follow them

*Listening to uplifting music

*Reading or listening to inspirational people, books, tapes, and poetry

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ENERGY DRAINS

Physical Energy Drains

*Smoking

*Alcohol

*Drugs

*Sugar

*Margarine, corn oil, and other partially-hydrogenated and trans-fats

*Skipping meals

*Too much caffeine

*Food additives

*Lack of exercise or overdoing exercise

*Too much time spent driving

*Not much time in nature

*Insufficient sleep

*Constant rushing
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Mental and Spiritual Energy Drains

*Too much mindless TV

*Too much time in front of a computer screen

*Excessive exposure to the news on TV, radio, and in newspapers

*Too much noise

*Spending time around negative, complaining, demanding people at work or at home

*Talking about yourself negatively, putting yourself down, putting others down

*Worrying and thinking too much about the past or the future

*A cluttered environment

*Financial concerns and overspending

*Projects you haven't finished

*Relationships and conflicts you haven't resolved or forgiven

*Resisting and resenting your life

*Holding things inside that you are afraid to express

*Pushing yourself to do things that you don't want to do

*Staying in a job you dislike or can't transform

*Staying in an unhealthy relationship that you can't transform

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