In the journey towards personal and professional growth, the phrase “where your thoughts go, your energy flows” serves as a powerful reminder of the profound impact our mindset can have on our lives. This simple yet profound concept emphasizes the importance of focusing our thoughts, emotions, and energy towards our goals and aspirations, thereby shaping our reality. This blog post delves into the significance of this phrase, exploring how understanding and applying it can transform our lives.

The Foundation of Mindful Thinking

Mindfulness, the practice of being present and fully engaged with the moment without judgment, is at the heart of this concept. By being mindful of our thoughts, we begin to understand the direction and flow of our energy. This awareness is crucial because our thoughts are not just fleeting moments of consciousness; they have the power to shape our beliefs, actions, and ultimately, our outcomes. When we align our thoughts with positive intentions and goals, we channel our energy in a direction that facilitates growth and success.

The Science of Thought and Energy

The idea that our thoughts can influence our reality is more than just a philosophical perspective; it has roots in psychology and neuroscience. Studies in the field of neuroplasticity have shown that repeated thoughts and behaviors can physically change the structure and function of the brain. This means that by consistently directing our thoughts towards positive and constructive ends, we can actually rewire our brains to support these patterns, making it easier over time to maintain a positive focus and direction.

Overcoming Negative Thought Patterns

One of the greatest challenges in applying the principle of “where your thoughts go, your energy flows” is overcoming negative or self-defeating thought patterns. These patterns can act as barriers to our growth, draining our energy and diverting it away from our goals. To overcome these patterns, it’s essential to practice self-awareness and mindfulness, recognizing negative thoughts as they arise and consciously choosing to redirect our focus towards more positive and constructive thoughts.

Practical Steps for Positive Thought Direction

1. Mindfulness Meditation: Regular practice of mindfulness meditation can enhance your ability to observe your thoughts without judgment, allowing you to more easily direct your focus towards positivity.
2. Affirmations: Positive affirmations can help reinforce your desired direction of thought and energy. By repeatedly affirming your goals and positive self-beliefs, you can strengthen these thought patterns.
3. Goal Setting: Setting clear, achievable goals provides a focus for your thoughts and energy. By visualizing your goals and breaking them down into actionable steps, you can more effectively direct your efforts.
4. Journaling: Writing about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences can provide clarity and help you identify patterns in your thinking. This awareness can be a powerful tool in redirecting your energy.
5. Community and Support: Surrounding yourself with a supportive community that shares your positive outlook can help reinforce your desired direction of thought and energy.

The Ripple Effect of Positive Energy

When we manage to focus our thoughts and energy positively, it not only benefits our own lives but also has a ripple effect on those around us. Positive energy is contagious; by embodying this principle, we can inspire others to adopt a similar mindset, creating a cycle of positivity and growth that extends beyond ourselves.

Embracing the Journey

It’s important to recognize that mastering the direction of our thoughts and energy is a journey, not a destination. There will be times when negative thoughts intrude and when our focus wavers. The key is not to strive for perfection but to practice persistence and resilience, gently guiding ourselves back to a positive focus whenever we stray.

Conclusion

The phrase “where your thoughts go, your energy flows” encapsulates a powerful truth about the human experience. Our thoughts are the steering wheel of our energy, directing us towards our destiny. By cultivating a positive mindset, practicing mindfulness, and taking practical steps to focus our thoughts and energy, we can unlock our full potential and create the life we aspire to. Remember, the quality of our thoughts directly influences the quality of our life; by choosing to focus on the positive, we pave the way for success, happiness, and fulfillment.

I have always wanted to have a site where I can just write. No agenda – no worries about what people are going to think – and not meant to drive traffic. Just a place to write. For some reason tonight, through a world of emotion and the underlying theme of “life is suffering”, I write. 

I bought this domain to be a domain about me. And as I started to develop myself, I though this was going to be my voice. My voice of health, fitness, personal development, growth, everything I love in my life. And with a background in health and fitness, and a passion in personal development, I was going to help others level up in their life because I was going to get these INSANE results in all areas of my life. I was going to share my knowledge with the world. I was going to be the guy that everyone wants to be and teach people to be the same. I was ready to go.

Then 2020 happen. And I stayed fat.

Then 2021 rolled in, and I was going to get it again. But I stayed fat.

Then 2022 rolled in – this is it. This is my year. Watch out world – here comes the 6 pack!

Yeah – I don’t think so. Same ol sh*t.

So finally – 2023 rolled around and I was finally fed up with life. Like all aspects of it.

I was living a still life.

Year after year – I was STILL.

STILL overweight.

STILL out of shape.

STILL making the same money.

STILL at the same level of relationship with my wife.

STILL the same dad.

STILL on the same level of my work.

STILL frustrated. STILL dreaming. STILL wishing. STILL hoping there is a better life for me.

And I was so fed up with it. Like to the point I couldn’t sleep. I can’t tell you exactly what exactly flipped in my mind this time – there wasn’t a straw to break the camels back – except for maybe me actually taking this shit seriously for the first time in my life.

This was all early December. I was ready to go come 1/1. Dedicated. Passionate.

Then here comes 2023 – and you know what happened? I actually did it.

I got in the gym. I actually started pushing heavy weights for the first time in nearly a decade. I subscribed to Carbon app to help with my calorie management. I quit drinking alcohol. I shopped for myself. I was in control on by diet. I was hitting cardio 5x days a week. Diet was on point. Gym was on point. Mindset was on point. I was actually doing it.

Pounds were flying off. I started at 204 and 4 weeks into I was 195. But I was starting to build muscle. I no longer had a double chin. Work was paying off so much people were starting to notice. I was at my son’s baseball tryouts and I had a guy I know who is a beast of a human being ask me if I am losing weight and that I am starting to fill out a shirt. It was a huge compliment from him.

Confidence was through roof. I planned a date with my wife to see Niko Moon at a small venue here in San Diego. I went out and bought a new outfit – skinny jeans (I have never been a skinny jean guy), plain tee shirt and a bomber jacket. The wife noticed. I actually even bought cologne to wear – like who am I?

This is it. This is the year I change. Success breeds success and I am flying high. Since I was off the booze my sleep was on point. I was recovering the way I needed to. Hitting the gym every morning pushing more and more weight. Getting the right supplements. Macros were perfect nearly everyday. I was going to restraunts and ordering food the way I needed it to be cooked. I am researching ahead of time and know exactly what I was going to get. Extra time was spend reading about relationships, mindset, growth instead of looking down the end of a bottle. I am flying high and hitting everying I wanted to. I am on my way.

Then February 5th hit. I get a text from a dear friend of mine for over 20 years:

Guys, I don’t know how else to tell you this, but Staci died yesterday. There was an accident a week where she hit her head. She’d been in the hospital all week and looked to be recovering, but started taking a turn for the worst on Thursday. I lost the love of my life at 4pm yesterday. The girls and I are devastated.

I stood there. Just staring at it. My wife was also on the text, and I hear here running out

That’s not real, right?

I looked at her. Look at the message. Silence creeps over me. My mind starts going: 

No way. This is a joke – a sick joke. Come on matt – give me those 3 bubbles you are typing a message something sadistic like ‘ha ha sorry that was mean but lets hang out soon’. 

That message never came. What did come was that growing reality that Staci is not longer with us.

Matt is one of my longest friends – a constant in my life for over 2 decades. Staci was his beautiful wife – just a shining light to the world. They have 2 daughters – just as beautiful as Staci – the same age as my boys. We saw them just 3 weeks earlier.

I won’t ever be able to put into words that moment in my life. I was stunned. Actually – I am stunned still.

And I decided that it would be a good idea to go out and get one of Staci’s favorite beers and pour one back in her honor. So I did. Racer 5 IPA. After 36 days no booze, and missing a dear friend, it was an amazing beer.

But it put me down an unhealthy path. I couldn’t cope with everything.

That isn’t true. I didn’t know how to cope so I went back to my old ways of coping. Booze.

Booze turned into rough mornings. Turned into shitty workouts. Turned into poor diet. Turned into shitty sleep. Turned into no more cardio. Turned into back to 204 within 2 weeks.

I honestly don’t know what I am telling the world all this. Except for the fact that maybe I actually want to be real on this site for once and not post the same old motivational shit that we all hear everyday. Maybe not post a fitness site though the lens that “Hey – look at me – everything is awesome and you can be too”.

Life is a struggle. And a rough one at that. We all have high hopes and aspirations – big goals we want to accomplish. But we stil year after year after year being the SAME person – being the STILL person. Still broke. Still fat. Still mad.

Then – just went we finally get the momentum that we have been waiting YEARS to get. Just when we start getting our stride. Just went we find our way – life comes and serves up another gut wrenching loss that makes it hard to do anything else but contemplate the cruel world we live in.

One of your dearest friends just lost his wife and the mother of his kids – how can you not think that the world is a fucked up place and ponder why you do the shit you do – and what is the actual point of anything.

But like an onion – there are layers to be peeled back. You just have to keep peeling until you find the layer that is meaningful to you.

So here I am – 17 days sober again. Back in the gym. Back on the diet. Back getting the results.

Will I fall off the wagon again? Yeah – I could almost bet money on that. Because life is a cruel bitch. Life is suffering. It will shake you to your core just to test your will.

And you will fall off. Maybe for an hour. Maybe for a day. Maybe for 5 weeks. Maybe for 5 years.

But as long as you are breathing – you have a chance to get back on it. As long as you can put your feet on the earth – you can take on the day. As long as you can feel the warmth of the sun on your skin – you can get back at it.

I honestly have no idea why I wrote this, how I wrote this, or who needs to hear this. It quite literally just came out of me. But maybe that is the point. I have always wanted to get back to writing on this site in a more real way, not just a way that gets readers to the site. Maybe this was it. Maybe no one will ever read it. Regardless – I think I needed this post more than anyone.