A WAKE-UP CALL!
We all bask beneath the same radiant sun, and the day’s hourglass sands flow equally for everyone. Within this shared space of existence, our untapped potential far exceeds our self-imposed limitations. If we were to pinpoint the culprit behind thwarted accomplishments, it’s often found in a familiar culprit: excuses (I confess, I have my own catalogue of them – I’m no exception). Yet, to forge change, there’s no avoiding the requirement of energy. Regrettably, there’s no effortless shortcut.
The How and Why of It: This varies widely from person to person, hinging on the breadth of one’s energetic chasm – the divide between mental and physical awareness. The wider this gap, the more likely we are to concoct reasons not to act or to persist in detrimental lifestyles and negative thought loops. Sometimes, we expend our mental energies racing ahead in our minds, reaching the finish line before embarking on the physical journey. While this mental sprint can be a helpful tool for planning, it can impede genuine and meaningful experiences unrelated to specific outcomes.
To delve deeper into the concept of energy, let’s consider pulse diagnosis in Oriental medicine. If I claimed the ability to “see” your energy, that would be less than truthful. Instead, I perceive and “see” your energy by examining your radial pulse. The way Oriental medicine regards the pulse greatly differs from Western medicine. We focus on its immediate, palpable qualities – whether it feels large, thin, rough, or wiry – as well as its rhythm and depth. Pulse diagnosis is no easy feat for practitioners, and I, by no means, have mastered it. It requires a delicate balance, where I must attune myself to the world around me and maintain a minimal energetic gap. This state cannot be forced, for it leads to no worthwhile outcome.
In the pulse, we seek a quality that mirrors the individual’s true state of health – a “gap” that’s readily discernible. I often detect it in those grappling with depression. Strangely, depression isn’t always negative; I perceive it as a positive phase of introspection. It’s a journey inward, a form of reflection, which can be a profoundly constructive process. Often, I won’t discuss this with the patient, as my role remains neutral. True learning demands introspection, self-correction, and the replacement of negative perceptions with a positive blueprint for health, which Oriental medicine provides. It heightens perceptual body awareness and allows for an ideal state of health through regular or occasional treatments, should one desire it. Secondly, the core tenet of Oriental medicine revolves around the notion of “未病を治す,” which translates to treating the disease before it manifests.
Bridging the Gap: This can be achieved through genuine friendships or altruistic endeavours. Closing our energetic gap often hinges more on how we interact with others than on what we do for ourselves. The crux lies in the idea that one cannot truly help oneself without enriching the lives of others first (take a moment to ponder this). Consider those who accumulate material wealth; often, these possessions serve as a mere mask for an underlying void. I’m not suggesting that material wealth is undesirable; rather, it’s beneficial to view these possessions as needs rather than wants. After we cast aside the superficial trappings, we usually find the richness of a loving family, close friends, and robust well-being. May your day be filled with positive encounters, with good energy circulating throughout your emotional and physical bank accounts!
*Here lies an intriguing paradox: With sufficient energy, one can afford to be generous with it and relish it. Destructive habits, in moderation, may not be inherently harmful, provided there’s enough resilience to counteract them and derive lessons from them. Perfect purity is a rare find, and sometimes, our best companions are excellent sinners!
**As we’ve explored the act of replenishing gaps, it’s fear that often drives people away from experiences rooted in the unknown. Fear wields immense power, guiding the stock markets, housing trends, politics, and indeed, healthcare. In the presence of fear, people readily invest their resources.