In Asian medicine the concept of life force is central to health and well-being. Life force is first summoned from our parents when we are conceived. We get our life from them. How we use our life force and nourish it though out our lives is up to us. The first nourishment is breath. When we take our first breath we initiate all life systems in body-mind-spirit. During breastfeeding our entire self is nourished. One of the most important things we learn is that we can be safe and satisfied. If our early needs are met then we will know what it means to trust life. With optimal health in the beginning we have a strong foundation for life. Breastfeeding benefits life in a multitude of ways and mother’s milk if full of life force.
As we grow we are fed in many ways and life force or life energy needs to be nourished. We are wonderfully complex and also simple. We all have the same basic needs for clean air and water, healthy fresh food, touch, warmth, movement, rest, safety, and shelter. When our needs are not met we go into a state of imbalance. Our life force is not nourished and we can become diseased or no longer at ease. Many people will spend much of their life trying to fill the void created when their early needs were not met. Addictions might be extreme example of this.
We have a body clock which demonstrates the way energy cycles nourish our bodies. Each organ system (energy flow and organ) has a peak energy time. If anything obstructs the flow of your energy – or life force – imbalance is created. This is most often manifested in the emotional realm first. We are emotional beings. Appreciate your emotions. Our survival has depended on our ability to sense danger for centuries. Extreme emotions use up life force and can cause imbalance.
Climate is also a factor. What happens when we are exposed to cold wind. We can catch a cold or wind invasion in the body. Our bodies have built in healing mechanisms for most chronic illness. If we rest we will get over a cold. We are affected by the cycles of nature. The problem is that now nature is in a state of imbalance. There is a great deal of uncertainty. We like stability and instability can cause stress. During times of societal instability there is stress. There is too much change for our body-mind-spirit to cope with. Coping with this uses up our energy. Our life force can become depleted and our immune function depressed. This is an opportunity for disease.
Consider the how you can support your life force. Making healthy life-style choices is the best insurance. Having a sound self care program can support, and even enhance, your life force. It can also reduce stress. Investing time and energy, and perhaps some money will help you enjoy a good quality long life. There are many wonderful modalities that offer support and encouragement for your life force. Most are not usually covered by our current health insurance plans. It is worth the investment to stay well rather then trying to fix things when they break. Staying well is much easier than trying to change aberrant energy once is has caused too much imbalance.While there are never any guarantees, that we will stay healthy, there are many wonderful and enjoyable ways to create life energy and support your life force.