In a world of constant digital distraction, where we are terrorized by to-do lists and starved of authentic presence and connection, many of us feel tired and wired. Seven to eight hours of sleep often feels like an unattainable luxury, and caffeine becomes a convenient crutch.
As a Holistic High-Performance Coach and “Healthspanner,” I’ve observed that many of our modern health struggles and barriers to success stem from chronic stress, overwhelm, and burnout; symptoms of an unbalanced achievement model focusing on hustle, toughness, and sacrifice. To make matters worse, our current healthcare system is a misnomer. It’s not about health, shows little care, and is a poorly functioning system. Amid political discord, wars, and a mental health epidemic, a new paradigm of self-determined success, health, and fulfilment is being called forth, based on joy, wisdom, harmony, and energy flow. This shift reveals a crucial truth: no one is coming to save us but ourselves.
As Buckminster Fuller said, “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) campaign is a powerful example of uniting people across the great political divide as the idea of shifting from sickcare to genuine healthcare is something that resonates widely.
Everyone desires the health and energy to be, have, and do what they want in life. According to the NY think tank Project Energy, energy is the single common denominator in lasting success in virtually anything. So, knowing where it comes from, where it goes, and how to maximize it is the key to success. Yet many people are unclear how their choices cause either energy gains or drains. This is precisely why after years of research I created a framework called the “Energy Engagement Wheel,” a holistic framework for us to cultivate healthier energy states in every aspect of life. Everything is energy. And everything we do, say, and think affects it. Energy is the currency of exponential impact, and it must be spent wisely.
The Energy Engagement Wheel divides energy into six main sources, empowering us to become more aware of how we use it. At the core is Foundation Energy: the air, food, water, light, sleep, and supplements we take in. Next is Move Energy: the shapes and movement we give our body, such as posture, smiles, exercise. Sitting is the new smoking. Then comes Pause Energy, the power of meditation, prayer, and mindfulness. Rumi said it best: “God’s language is silence. Everything else is poor translation.” Space Energy covers the sights, sounds, smells, and physical elements in your environment. Are you crushed under clutter, or do you have the space to let in the new and good? Mind Energy is about the thoughts, habits, and emotions that shape your experience of life. What questions are on your mental dashboard? Do they direct you to a place you want to go? Finally, Connection Energy looks at how you communicate and interact with others. The energy you give is the energy you get back. Are you an energy angel or energy vampire?
Take a bird’s-eye view of your energy wheel. How do you score in each category? For instance, if your Foundation Energy is low, do you need to cut back on sugar and hydrate? Are you sitting at your desk all day and need to top up on your Move Energy? Also, notice where you go when you’re depleted—do you seek connection through coffee with a friend or turn to pause with meditation? Bringing awareness to your unique personal energy map can help you plug up the leaks with small energy affirming habits. As you slowly stack your energy habits in each of these six areas, you’ll unlock a whole new level of performance, energy, and enjoyment!
Susan Treadgold is a holistic high-performance coach, speaker, and multiple #1 best-selling author with nearly two decades of investment banking experience at Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, and Citigroup. She empowers women to have more energy and success with the use of science-backed high-performance habits, executive presence, training, and a personally curated longevity portfolio of cutting edge biohacking products. She is an award-winning artist, host of The High-Performing Woman talk show, and on the leadership committee of 5050 Women on Boards. She is a proud mother of two teenagers, and family is her love language. As a board member of Roots of Promise, she is passionate about helping less fortunate kids.
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