I’ve spoken to a few people lately who’ve mentioned they’re experiencing symptoms of a cold or general illness. In fact, in our household, all three of us (and maybe even the dogs) are currently healing from some kind of bug.

This morning, even though I woke up feeling a little tired, I still did my energy work—and it made a noticeable difference. It got me thinking about why this works and why you should consider energy work if you're trying to heal faster or kick a cold completely.

Energy, or prana, is our life force. Think of it like gasoline for a car—without it, the car doesn’t run. The same goes for us. When you're low on prana, everything becomes harder: physically, mentally, and emotionally. During recovery, the limited healthy prana available is busy working to heal the body, which leaves less for daily tasks. That’s why you may find yourself taking an extra nap (or three) while your body restores itself.

It’s also important to note that when your energy levels are chronically low, you’re more susceptible to catching a cold or worse. So, caring for your energy system even when you feel fine is essential for staying well.

To protect and replenish prana, we need to guard against the things that drain it. These include:

The most powerful tool we have as humans is our ability to speak. It’s one of the major traits that separates us from the animal, plant, and mineral kingdoms. We are uniquely gifted—not just with the capacity to think, but also to vocalize those thoughts. And as with any great power, it comes with great responsibility.

Wars are started with words. Words have the power to create and destroy—relationships, careers, even entire cultures. Yet few people truly understand the value—or the harm—that their words bring into daily life. Our speech is a direct extension of our thoughts, and since our thoughts are infused with prana, or life energy, our words also carry that same energetic force. As we strive to manage our mindset and mental health, it’s equally important to bring awareness to the energy behind our speech.

Gossip: A Silent Energy Drain
One of the most detrimental ways we can use our speech—both to ourselves and to others—is through gossip.

When we gossip about someone, we project energy onto them—energy that, regardless of whether the story is true, begins to shape their energetic field and our perception of them. Think about it: when you assume something about someone and then speak it aloud, you’ve not only formed a fixed opinion, but you've also crystallized that opinion into energy. The next time you see that person, are you still open to experiencing who they really are—or have you already decided their value, intentions, or character?

The Three Gates of Speech
There’s a simple test, attributed across traditions from Sufism to Buddhism to Ancient Greek philosophy, that offers a powerful filter for conscious speech. Regardless of origin, the wisdom speaks for itself. Before you speak—especially when you’re tempted to gossip—ask yourself:

Most of the difficult emotions we experience are born from unrealistic expectations. When you begin to recognize your own expectations—whether of other people or life circumstances—you’ll start to see how heavily they influence your emotional state. Someone doesn’t show up the way you hoped? Sadness, anger, and resentment arise. You lose a job sooner than expected? Panic and fear take the lead.

But what if we lived with fewer expectations?

It’s a radical idea. Even my own mind wants to push back: “Wait, am I supposed to expect nothing from anyone? What kind of life is that?” But in reality, it creates a far more peaceful one. It doesn’t mean that people won’t help you or show up for you—but when they do, it becomes a gift, not just the fulfillment of a silent obligation.

Now, of course, in a professional setting—if you’re a manager or business owner—you do need expectations. But in that context, they are clearly communicated as goals, with systems to track progress. If outcomes aren’t being met, the solution usually lies in improving communication or refining your processes—not in silently resenting unmet expectations.

In personal life, however, the more expectations you place on others without communication, the more you open the door to emotional friction.

Letting go of expectations means facing the fears and insecurities that built them. Why do I expect my partner to behave a certain way to make me feel loved? Why do I expect my friend to act a certain way to “prove” our bond? Usually, it’s because these things make life feel easier and safer.

But here’s the paradox: when you let go of expectations, you eliminate the suffering caused by their absence. You stop feeling disappointed when unspoken needs go unmet—and start owning your own happiness. You communicate more clearly, ask for what you need, and become the active steward of your emotional experience.

And from that space of ownership, life becomes full of surprises. When something good happens—something you might have previously expected—it now feels like a bonus. Joy expands. Disappointment shrinks.

Practicing non-expectation is not passivity. It is active surrender. It is choosing to stay energetically clean while navigating life with compassion, detachment, and trust. Where there is detachment, there is space for miracles.