I talk a lot about energy here, but the question came up in our Sturdy Oak Wellness Tribe mastermind this week:
What does it actually mean to have more energy?

Before we can define what “more” energy feels like, we first need to recognize what energy itself feels like.

Energy—or prana—is the subtle life force that runs through each one of us, and every living thing in our world.

But can you feel it?

Prana is formless—meaning it has no shape or structure like a coffee mug or your phone. We live in a form-focused world, where most of what we value is what we can see, touch, or measure. That’s why it’s easier to focus on things like sleep or diet than it is to care for something invisible like energy.

But that invisible something is the source of everything else.

There are many types of energy—emotional, mental, sexual, spiritual, and physical—and they all contribute to your overall energetic state. That state is what we want to build awareness of and connect to.

Everyone experiences energy differently. For me, it can feel like a shiver up my spine, a gentle buzzing beneath my skin, or sometimes even an inexplicable itch. But here’s the thing:

The power isn’t in what the energy feels like—it’s in remembering to feel it at all.

Think of it like this: imagine someone who wakes up and immediately launches into their checklist—meetings, errands, emails, family obligations. Their whole day is consumed by getting things done. On paper, they’re productive. But internally? Drained. Not because they’re doing too much, necessarily—but because they never pause to replenish the system doing it all.

Driven by pressure, perfectionism, or the need to prove something, they override their own energy system day after day… until it burns out.

That’s what happens when we get consumed by the form—the tasks, responsibilities, and roles—and forget the formless. We disconnect from our prana. And when that happens, we describe it as “low energy” or “burnout.”

But here’s the truth: energy is always present. It is us.

This is where the Observer Effect from quantum physics comes into play: the very act of observing a system changes it. Similarly, the moment you turn your awareness inward—toward your own energy—you begin to shift it.

“Where your awareness goes, energy flows. Where there is no awareness, energy dissipates.”
—Master Choa Kok Sui

So if you’re looking to feel more energized, you may not need to do more. You may actually need to slow down—just long enough to notice the subtle tingling in your fingers, the breath expanding in your belly, or the stillness that arises during five quiet minutes with your eyes closed.

Because energy expands when you acknowledge it.

And when it expands, everything gets easier—from your to-do list, to your relationships, to how you feel in your own skin.

So before you dive into your day, take a moment to connect with the one thing that fuels it all:
your prana.

There’s one thing you can do in the morning that’s guaranteed to improve the quality of your day. It takes less than two minutes, and it has the power to shift everything that follows. If you’re not a morning person—or if you wake up with a sense of dread for any reason—this simple practice might change everything. It’s so easy, so powerful, and yet, chances are… it’s not something you actually do.

The practice? Giving gratitude for the fact that you woke up.

Every now and then, when I ask someone, “How are you today?” they’ll respond with something like, “Every day above ground is a good day.” It’s usually someone older, or someone dealing with illness or pain. I believe they mean it, but there’s often a subtle undertone—like they’re just relieved not to be dead. Still, that sentiment holds a powerful truth. And it’s one that applies no matter your age, no matter the condition of your body.

So often, people wake up groggy, drag themselves out of bed, and start their day on autopilot—barely rested, already bracing for obligation and stress. Maybe they stub a toe, spill the coffee, hit traffic. And suddenly the whole day feels like it’s stacked against them. We’ve all been there. One bad moment spirals into a rough day.

But what if that moment—the moment you wake up—was different?

Instead of rushing into the day, try this: sit up in bed or find the nearest chair. Close your eyes (while seated so you don’t fall back asleep), and simply say: “Thank you for waking me up this morning.” That’s it. That’s the practice. You can speak to God, the Universe, Spirit—whatever feels true to you. What matters is the energy of acknowledgment—that something greater allowed you to wake up again, and with that, gifted you a brand-new opportunity.

Take a couple minutes to feel into why it matters that you woke up. Maybe it’s your kids, your dog, your unfinished project, your garden, your partner. Maybe it’s as simple as the warmth of sunlight or the promise of your favorite coffee. Whatever it is, let yourself feel grateful for being here to experience it.

My teacher, Master Choa Kok Sui, said, “Gratitude increases the inflow of spiritual energy. It magnetizes prana.” Gratitude, in other words, is a form of energy work. When you start your day with it, you begin aligning your system to receive. You create the energetic conditions for blessings to enter.

And the difference is real. You’ll find that the little things—traffic, spills, setbacks—don’t derail you as easily. You’ve already created space inside yourself for joy. You’ve already chosen alignment.

Start your day this way, and you might just notice: life starts meeting you with the same energy you’ve chosen to give.

Because that’s how prana works. What you radiate returns.

​And it all begins in under two minutes.

Emotional energy—especially when it feels negative—is not hard to pick up. Most of us can read through passive-aggressive texts, curt emails, or strange comments that are clearly powered by frustration, resentment, or even outright anger.

If you find yourself in a situation where someone is sending you less-than-ideal emotional energy, the best way to handle it is to see it for what it truly is.

Imagine, for example, that you’re having a wonderful day. Everything’s clicking. You’re getting things done, feeling good, and then—out of nowhere—you ask someone a simple question, and their response is short, sharp, and maybe even accusatory. It’s like they can’t believe your audacity in making the request.

When this happens, it’s jarring. It doesn’t feel good. And most of the time, our first instinct is to... react. But like energy attracts like energy—so our reaction often matches the tone, and just perpetuates the problem (or makes it worse).

Here’s the key: Nine times out of ten, their reaction has nothing to do with you. It usually has everything to do with their own ego, a threatened sense of control, a discomfort with change, or even a value misalignment. Something you said—or even just your presence—rubbed against something they were already struggling to manage.

And here’s the bigger insight…

The ego—that part of us that believes we’re in control and clings to our self-made identity—can be dissolved by not feeding it. That goes for your ego and theirs.

This doesn’t mean there aren’t times when you’ve said something hurtful or unkind. If you have, it’s your responsibility to own it. But if you’re being kind, respectful, and considerate—and still being met with negativity—then often the most powerful thing you can do is not return the energy.

When you withhold your energy from the exchange, their emotional charge has nowhere to go. It falls flat. And usually, the other person will realize—consciously or not—that their reaction wasn’t aligned with the moment.

Master Choa Kok Sui teaches that energy is transferred not just through touch, but through words, tone, and intention. When someone directs negative energy toward you, you don’t have to absorb it. You have the power to either transmute it through loving-kindness or let it dissolve through non-reaction.

Try this: Next time someone triggers you for no good reason, pause. Take three deep breaths. Say nothing. Simply observe.

Sometimes, that moment of quiet is all it takes for the other person to self-correct. And if they don’t? That’s okay too. It’s not your responsibility to carry or fix their discomfort.

You are only responsible for your energy.

And that, when managed with grace, is more powerful than any reaction ever could be.