What Is Your Human Energy Currency?

Time to Turn Up the Voltage?

Let’s face it—if 2024 has taught us anything, it’s that chaos is the new normal. Between global upheavals, political absurdity, and climate disasters, it feels like the world’s in a constant state of overdrive. 

In the meantime,  here we are, chugging coffee, scrolling doom-laden headlines, and hoping our Wi-Fi holds up long enough to escape into Netflix. 

But here’s the real question: What if the energy you’re expending just to stay sane is like throwing money out of the window? What if you could crank up your internal voltage and handle this madness with grace, grit, and maybe even a little swagger? 

Enter the world of Chinese energy medicine and the mighty force known as qi.

As a student of qigong, I’ve taken a deep dive into the art of turning internal energy into a superpower. Qi is more than some woo-woo concept from ancient texts—it’s the real deal, a currency you can build, save, or blow depending on how you manage it. 

Spoiler alert: most of us are blowing it. But there’s hope. The more I’ve gotten into qigong, the more I realize we all have the ability to build and elevate our energy to higher levels. And let me tell you, now’s the time to turn up that voltage because the world’s not slowing down any time soon.

Energy Currency 101: What’s Your Qi Worth?

Qi is basically your body’s energy bank account. It’s what fuels you to get through the day, keeps you from snapping at your co-worker, and stops you from passing out during yoga class. 

But it’s not limitless, and, unfortunately, you can’t just order a refill like your favorite cold brew. To really get in the zone, you need to learn how to build and manage that qi like the pros—because when your qi is low, everything feels like a struggle.

In the book The Way of Qigong, Ken Cohen lays it all out. Think of qigong as your energy gym, where instead of lifting weights, you’re lifting your vibrational frequency. 

It’s a mix of movements, breathwork, visualization, and meditation designed to build and circulate qi throughout your body. And trust me, this is not your grandma’s yoga—it’s a full-on power upgrade.

Building Qi: Stop Draining, Start Charging

So, how do you start hoarding this precious qi? First, you need to quit those energy-draining habits like mindless scrolling and worrying about things you can’t control (easier said than done, right?). Instead, focus on some solid qi-building techniques that Ken Cohen and the qigong masters have been refining for millennia.

Breathe Like You Mean It: Most of us breathe like we’re auditioning for shallow-breathing Olympics. But deep, intentional breathing—using your diaphragm—is like plugging your body into the ultimate charging station. It’s not just about getting more oxygen, it’s about drawing in that sweet, sweet qi and fueling your body from the inside out.

Move with Purpose: Forget flailing around at the gym. In qigong, every movement is intentional, flowing like water and designed to pump that qi through your meridians. When you move your body with purpose, you’re not just stretching muscles—you’re sending energy on a wild joyride through your veins.

Visualize It to Energize It: Think of this as daydreaming with purpose. When you visualize energy filling your body—golden light, cosmic waves, whatever floats your boat—you’re actually shifting how your brain and body work together to build and store qi. It’s like mind-hacking your way to better energy.

Nature Is Your Battery Pack: Forget spa weekends. Just go outside and stand barefoot in the grass. Nature is like a bottomless pit of energy waiting for you to plug into it. A few minutes of fresh air, sunshine, and a little tree-hugging (don’t judge) and you’ll be charged up faster than you can say “om.”

Cranking Up the Voltage in a World Gone Mad

It’s one thing to build qi, but another to amplify it. In a world that feels like it’s constantly running on empty, turning up your internal voltage is more important than ever. The beauty of qigong is that it doesn’t just help you survive the madness—it helps you thrive in it.

Cohen’s book is full of insights on how to use qi as a protective shield against the world’s chaos. He talks about using energy intentionally, which I’ve taken to heart. 

Whether it’s limiting my time around negative energy vampires or simply choosing to invest in activities that make me feel more alive, I’m turning my energy reserves into a force field of resilience. Instead of letting the world drain me, I’m cranking up my voltage and letting the high-frequency vibes roll.

And here’s the kicker: this isn’t just about zen and inner peace. When you’re vibrating at a higher frequency, you start to experience life in a totally different way. Challenges become less daunting, negativity bounces off you like water on a duck’s back, and you have the stamina to handle whatever chaos 2024 (and beyond) throws at you.

Insights from Ken Cohen’s Energy Bible

Ken Cohen is like Mr. Miyagi of qi. His teachings in The Way of Qigong have given me the tools to not only cultivate energy but to shape how I show up in the world. He emphasizes that where your attention goes, your energy flows. In other words, quit wasting time on things that drain you and start directing your focus toward things that lift you up.

I’ve started applying this in my day-to-day life, being selective about where I place my attention and energy. Every interaction, every choice is either an energy builder or an energy drainer. When you realize that your human energy currency is limited, you get a lot more intentional about how you spend it.

It’s Time to Turn Up Your Voltage

If you’ve made it this far, here’s the bottom line: the world’s not getting any easier to navigate, but you don’t have to let it drain you dry. By turning up the voltage on your internal energy, you can walk through the chaos with a kind of confidence and power that makes people wonder what your secret is.

The tools are all here—breathwork, movement, visualization, nature, and intentional energy management. I’m turning up the volume on my own qi through qigong, building energy reserves, and leveling up my vibrational frequency. And I’m telling you, it works.

So, what are you waiting for? Time to stop draining your energy on the nonsense and start charging up for the life you really want. Turn up that voltage and let the world see what you’re really made of.