Attribute #7 Language and Energy

I’d like you to consider that everything in the world is a function of language and energy. 

There are many forms of Language and Energy. 

• Speaking and Listening
• Reading and Writing
• Movies
• The Arts: Music, Singing, Dance, Art: Painting, Drawing, other mediums
• Healing Modalities, Touch
• Nature’s four elements; Air, Water, Earth, Fire
• Exercising, Yoga, Martial Arts, Stretching, Resistance Training
• Sports of all kinds (hiking, biking, running, skiing, golf, tennis etc.) 

Enlightening leaders recognize the importance of language and energy and as a result live their lives with attention, intention and commitment to tending to both.  

By language we mean more broadly, communication. The importance of good communication can’t be understated. Communication starts how we speak to ourselves  and then moves to how we interact and communicate with the outside world. 

Henry Ford is quoted in saying, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.” This suggests that our capability is tied to how we language it. Said simply, language creates our world. 

We are all familiar with Magicians. What’s a Magician’s magic word?....  Abracadabra. Everyone knows that. But have you ever wondered what abracadabra means? Many believe it comes from the Hebrew phrase “ebrah k’dabri,” meaning, “I create as I speak.” Makes sense to me, because that’s exactly what the magician does, creating what they say.

Enlightening Leaders understand that language we use with ourselves and the outside world are foundational keys to success. 

Energy is all around us. Everything in nature including plants, bugs, animals and birds all have energy. The earth exudes energy. The earth’s resources help us generate energy that fuels our lives, literally, through coal, oil, natural gas, hydrogen and earth’s minerals and metals. 

Humans have four energy bodies. 

• Mental energy
• Emotional energy
• Physical energy and
• Spiritual energy

While each of us has all four energies, not all of us are fully present to and or tend to them. Enlightening Leaders are clear they have these four energy sources and work to cultivate, be responsible for and strengthen each of them. 

Similarly to language Enlightening Leaders understand that managing our energies in each of these four domains is foundational to success in life. 

It all starts with rest. Without an appropriate amount of sleep we won’t have the physical, mental, emotional or spiritual energy to effectively deal with life's demands. The appropriate amount of sleep is personal, some get by with four hours of sleep while others need nine. The average is seven to eight hours. Enlightening Leaders prioritize sleep to ensure they get the sleep they need to effectively manage their energy bodies.

Having appropriate amounts of sleep allows us to challenge our bodies physically in athletic pursuits which makes us stronger and ensures we have the physical energy to do the jobs we are counted on to do. The appropriate amount of sleep ensures our minds can function at their optimal levels and enables us to effectively deal with our emotions, both of which not ironically drain our energy.  

Language and energy don’t operate independent of each other. Quite the opposite. 

Consider energy as the context by which we move through the world while language is the content of how we communicate with the world. However, the energy we bring to our communication impacts our effectiveness in communicating. 

Maya Angelou is credited with the following quote, “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

What she’s saying is that the words or language we use isn’t enough, it's the energy including tone and our physical demeanor which also communicates and impacts how we make others feel. 

I am a constant work in progress in the domain of energy. The words I use are very important to me as I’m confident that the words I use can help alter how others see the world. When I’m able to do that, whole new worlds of possibilities show up. This is why my clients hire me. However, I don’t always strike the proper tone for the situation which reduces my power and effectiveness. Unfortunately, my family are the people who experience this the most from me. I’m constantly working on this. Being responsible, I apologize for my behavior when I miss the mark. Thankfully my family is forgiving. That’s how we all grow.  

The language and energy we speak to ourselves and to the external world, impacts our world and the world around us.  

Years ago when our boys took Karate the Sensei would ask the students how are you when they arrived. He would get a vast array of unenthusiastic responses. Then he taught them that when someone asks how are you, there is only one answer, excellent. My wife has embraced this, so when someone asks her how are you, she enthusiastically responds, excellent. It’s fascinating to watch how it instantly changes her demeanor and the demeanor of the person who asked the question. Words create a world.    

I find I am attracted to people’s energy. I have two friends, and colleagues who I’ve only been in their physical company four or five times in our lives. One I’ve known for over 25 years and the other about 15. We have a mutual attraction to each other's intellectual, spiritual and emotional energy. With one, we are each other's support system in dealing with life's challenges, while the other I rely upon for professional guidance. Energy attracts energy. 

Effective partnerships whether they be personally or professionally, are built upon a foundation of mutual trust, respect and love which is the result of how we communicate with one another through language and the energies we bring to our relationships. 

Life is energy in motion… it is a natural state of being. Enlightening Leaders understand that managing, monitoring and cultivating language and energy is critical for personal and professional success. Language and energy is a leader's jet fuel. Leaders create followings through language and energy.