Chi
Chi is universal energy flowing through your body, giving you life. But as in all things, on this plane of duality, chi can be either weak or strong.
A strong current of chi means inner personal strength, lots of life force, high energy, vibrant metabolism, positive outlook, optimism and invariably magnetic charisma, as people are naturally drawn to vibrant, vital personalities.
Weak chi means inherent weakness, low life force, lack of energy and vitality, low immunity and thus openness to ill-health, a negative, pessimistic outlook and an unattractive charisma. Nobody likes a grump!
We all want strong and vibrant energy. The key to strong chi is happiness, and sustained happiness is the outcome of vibrant chi. It is a virtuous upward spiral.
Happiness is a choice
Happiness is a conscious choice. It is a personal choice you must make every morning when you wake up. It is a daily discipline to focus on what you have and not on what you have not. It is focusing on the glass half full rather than the glass half empty. There will always be blessings in your life, and there will always be challenges.
There will always be difficulties and issues we need to deal with. This is life. This is personal growth. This is the evolutionary principle. We are all on our own personal spiritual journey to become more of who we truly are. Challenges are the stepping stones.
Your choice is to possess enough inner strength to enjoy the moment without being deflected from the goal. To choose to be cheerful. To align with the positive and be grateful for what you do have and what you have already achieved.
Daily Discipline
Like anything that is a personal discipline it requires practice and effort to begin with until these choices become automatic habits like cleaning your teeth. Remember, the unattended mind will usually revert to distractions and negativity. The brain must be trained to be positive.
Try these seven daily practices to immediately experience enhanced happiness, health and vitality:
- Listen to birdsong
- Breath slowly and deeply
- Drink fresh, clean water and bathe frequently in the sea or a running stream
- Exercise daily
- Get regular sunshine
- Spend time in nature
- Be grateful
Birdsong
Whenever possible listen to birdsong in the early morning or at dusk. Become attuned to that pivotal moment of sunrise and sunset when the choir of birds celebrate the new morn and the passing of the day. It is a joyous event that will soothe your soul and spontaneously fill your heart with joy.
Deep Breathing
Take some time regularly to do some deep, slow, rhythmic breathing. Count to 10 breathing in, and then count to 10 breathing out. Do this 10 times and rejoice in the fact that you can breathe, that you are alive and the wonder of life (you may need to start at six and work up to 10).
Aqua Cleansing
Stay connected to water both inwardly by drinking fresh, clean water and externally by bathing as often as possible in either the sea or some other running water like a lake or stream. Swimming is a wonderful and refreshing tonic that enhances one’s sense of well-being.
Daily Exercise Regime
Develop a daily exercise routine of up to 15 minutes: stretches, yoga, Pilates, gymnastics, aerobics, walking, whatever. It does not matter as long as it is yours and you are consistent. At least 3 times per week.
Sunshine
Get regular sunshine, preferably in the early morning or late afternoon and really relax and let go. Enjoy being alive. Treasure the moment. Go deep within your body and do not think. Just BE! Relax and unwind. Absorb the healing and nurturing rays of sunshine, bringing health, vitality and inner warmth. Affirm life is good.
Nature
Spend regular time in nature whether that is your own garden, a park, a reserve, the beach and so on. Forest bathing is essential, as it immerses oneself in the chi of the forest and allows it to seep into and rejuvenate one’s being totally. Absorb the energy and vitality of the forest. Walk slowly and consciously observing as much as possible of what is occurring all around you.
Be Grateful
Above all, be grateful. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude for what you have. The universe rewards gratitude by giving you more. The more you enjoy your life, the more life you will enjoy.
It is not the years in your life that are important; it is the life in your years.
Health and Happiness
Health and happiness are merely two sides of the one coin: strong vibrant chi leads to both a healthy body and mind and thus a happy life. Develop the mindset, the daily discipline and the conscious awareness of choosing to be healthy, choosing to be vital, choosing to be strong and choosing to be happy.
It is your birthright, and you deserve a life full of joy, positive expectancy and exuberant happiness.
To ‘en-joy’ means to put joy into. Consciously choose to put more joy into your life, to be more cheerful, to be more positive, to be happier. Find the things that bring you joy. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh.
Happiness comes when our inner and outer personal needs are met. Get good at meeting your own needs, at nourishing your own soul, at being your best self. Learn to live in jubilant joy.
Adrian Emery
Adrian Emery is an author, philosopher and environmentalist and has devoted his life to creating a new philosophy called LifeWorks based on understanding the laws, principles and codes that make life work easily, effortlessly and successfully. His book TaoTuning teaches how to find your life purpose (ikigai) and attune to the flow of your inner destiny and fate.
