It is astounding…how much energy the body is capable of pouring out and then replenishing.That is a magical act, because you never really understand where all that energy comes from.
—Robert Bly…
The energy and persistence of a motivated person are truly marvelous. The work that nourishes us, The work that is a form of rapture, a form of praise, is magical. Where does our energy come from? Surely not from breakfast cereal, sandwiches, or coffee. It is a magical transformation of earthly food into pure spirit.
Rapture isn’t our daily state, but we can achieve it. We achieve this rapt state when we forget ourselves, when we’re totally immersed in the work that transforms us—whether it’s clearing a field, playing a cello, collecting stamps, factoring an equation, or kneading dough. If we’re lucky, we discover this capacity for transformation while we’re young. Some of us spend our whole lives searching for it. Most of us come upon it somehow: the key to releasing our limitless energy of mind or body. Self-forgetfulness is basic to it. The strength of the spirit does the rest.
When energy flags, it’s often because I’m preoccupied with self. To renew my energy, all I need do is get out of my own way.