Life is complex, full of energies, emotions, and experiences that could promote or disrupt our purpose in life. To maintain the call or life purposes lies on the “Life Force” that an individual is being surrounded with. The spiritual meaning of life force or lifeforce according to Collins Dictionary “Life force is energy that some people believe exists in all living things and keeps them alive. This brings the question what life force or energy do you surround yourself with?
In this article, you will uncover the seven great forces of life that influence your path and learn five ways to harness your daily life force to overcome challenges and thrive.
A quote by Anjelica Huston says “Beautiful things comfort; they bring a real clarity and ease. We have to continue to make our environments beautiful – it’s sort of like a prayer. If you surround yourself with beautiful things, you have a better life – one with more oxygen.”
What is the Meaning of Life Force?
Life force is the term given in yoga for one of the two types of energy that are present in all beings. The other type of energy is that of the mind or consciousness.
In the body, the life force is thought to be responsible for maintaining all the physical functions, including life, heat, and health. Therefore, if one’s body is deficient in life force, then he/she is likely to become physically or mentally unwell. But for this post, we’ll be discussing the vitality that our soul, body, and body need to maintain for optimal balance.
What is the Concept of Life Force?
Life force can be cultivated in many ways. The yogic practice of pranayama is one way in which the life force energy can be sustained and enhanced. One interpretation of the term prayanama is the “extension of life force.” Through harnessing and controlling the breath, it is thought that the life force can be developed and channeled effectively. It is said that meditation is not possible without a great deal of life force energy. Therefore pranayama practices are often performed before meditation.
Other practices that are said to improve the life force are chanting and certain yoga postures that stimulate the life force in particular areas of the body. For instance, cat pose, cobra pose, and warrior two are all thought to stimulate more life force and leave the yogi feeling energized.
What are the Forces of Life?
Forces of life can be positive and negative which can affect our vibration, performance, growth, and purpose in life, and at the same time, the positive forces can lift us to become the better version of ourselves. Dr. Jim Taylor, an internationally recognized authority on the psychology of performance, sport, and parenting wrote on psychology today about forces that make positive life change so difficult, in his article he states that primitive instincts, emotional baggage, family dynamics, popular culture, habits, inertia, and fear are the seven forces that make positive life change so difficult, despite all those self-help gurus says these forces conspire to keep us the way we are;
Here are the forces he listed;
Evolutionary Instincts
Our primal instincts are wired for survival, focusing on maintaining balance and comfort. While these instincts were crucial for survival on the Serengeti 250,000 years ago, they hinder our growth and evolution in 2023, limiting us to merely surviving instead of thriving.
Emotional Baggage
Emotional baggage, such as low self-esteem, perfectionism, fear of failure, and the need for control or approval, served as protection during childhood. However, these ingrained patterns now keep us stuck in cycles of stagnation and unhappiness, preventing us from making positive changes in our lives.
Family Dynamics
Family dynamics can trap us in familiar patterns. Established early in life, these dynamics—shaped by attitudes, beliefs, relationships, and communication styles—often cater to the needs of dominant family members. Pressure from parents, siblings, and children to maintain these dynamics can make personal growth difficult, as they fear disrupting the status quo or losing their connection to us.
Culture
Dr. Taylor notes that popular culture wields significant influence, especially through online platforms like social media. Through persuasive technology, it attempts to control our attitudes, beliefs, interests, and behaviors, pushing us to conform to its standards for the sake of profit, often at the expense of our well-being.
Habits
Humans are creatures of habit, largely due to our evolutionary past. We dislike unfamiliarity, unpredictability, and lack of control, as these conditions once signaled danger. Over time, we develop routines and habits that provide a sense of safety and comfort. Even when these habits are unhealthy, they become deeply ingrained, making it challenging to change our behaviors and rewire our brains.
Inertia
Similarly, we are creatures of inertia, resistant to change. Like asteroids hurtling through space, we continue on the same path unless a powerful and sustained force compels us to alter our course. The momentum of our current trajectory makes change difficult, requiring significant effort to overcome.
Fear
Despite our conscious desire and determination to improve our lives, fear can hold us back. As a fundamental evolutionary force, fear triggers immediate and intense physiological and psychological responses, designed to protect us from harm. However, this same fear often prevents us from taking the necessary steps toward positive change.
How do you develop a life force?
I hear people ask, how do I find my life force?
Now, I want you to reflect on the 7 life forces listed by Dr. Jimmy Taylor’s explanation of forces of life and the impact on your personal development and journey. Which of them is damping or lifting your spirit? Knowing the forces that lift or damp your spirit will help you make the right choices and will help you connect to your positive life force. This is an individual journey, what makes you happy may be different from what makes me happy reason you have to make your choice. Every human being is blessed with the ability to use the Life Force, however, it requires one, harnessing its power for inner growth and conscious choice.
Here is how to connect to the life force
The most universal practice for tapping into the Life Force is several practices—of
Meditation,
Prayer,
Reading,
Yoga,
Tai Chi,
Physical activity,
Nutritious
Massage
Journal writing,
Exercise
Learning new skills
Challenging yourself with new tasks
These practices make up the morning rituals that so many people swear by that will up your energy and increase life force.
Every time you “practice” these activities—all of them or a select few—you are making the “choice” to apply the Life Force to your growth.
How to Increase Your Daily Life Force by John Kehoe
Daily Life force, often referred to as the essence or energy that can be cultivated and increased through mindful practices. Here are five key techniques to enhance your daily life force:
- Awareness: Spend a few minutes daily meditating on the idea of a cosmic life force. Visualize yourself connected to this vast energy. With consistent meditation, the concept will shift from a mere idea to a deeply held belief, enabling you to tap into this energy more effectively.
- Fun and Joy: Embrace activities that bring joy and fun into your life. These aren’t just pleasurable experiences—they are vital for increasing life force. Even small moments of joy can have a significant positive impact on your overall energy.
- Maintaining the Body: Your body is the vessel for your life force. Engage in physical activities like exercise, yoga, or even simple practices like taking the stairs. Choose nutritious foods that make you feel good and avoid habits that drain your energy.
- Positive Thought: Cultivate a habit of positive thinking. Thoughts of love, hope, and enthusiasm attract more life force, whereas negative thoughts drain it. Monitor your thoughts and focus on those that uplift and energize you.
- Success Vibration: Success naturally increases life force. Reflect on your accomplishments and practice feeling successful. This vibration of success will not only enhance your life force but also improve all aspects of your life.
Best quotes for Forces of Life
- Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher. Oprah Winfrey
- Always be your true self, and surround yourself with positive and supportive people. Amanda Lepore
- Try new things, step out of your comfort zone, take risks, do things in ways you’ve never done them before, ask for help, surround yourself with self-actualized people, and become obsessed with the fact that you have one go-round on this planet as you that is you, and realize how precious and important it is not to squander that. Jen Sincero
- Surround yourself with people who support you. Find champions. Sarah Gavron
- Surround yourself with good people who encourage and love you. There are always ups and downs, no matter how successful you are. Liana Liberato
- Surround yourself with people and things that inspire you. Learn everything you can. Jameela Jamil
- Surround yourself with really good people. I think that’s an important thing. Because the people you surround yourself with are a reflection of you. Aaron Rodgers
- Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves, those who work hard and play hard. Colin Powell
Final Thoughts
Increasing life force is about creating habits that nourish your body, mind, and spirit. By practicing awareness, engaging in joyful activities, maintaining a healthy body, thinking positively, and embracing success, you can significantly boost your life force and enhance your overall well-being.