Fatigue is the number one complaint I see in my naturopathic practice. Most people are attempting to function with inadequate energy levels which is ultimately having a negative impact on their quality of life. So what is the reason?

Yes there are many contributors such as poor diet, poor sleep, lack of exercise, being overweight, environmental toxicity and, of course, stress. However, constant tiredness is an alarm bell telling you that something is wrong in your life. Unless you address whatever is out of balance, then all other remedies will only give temporary relief.

In this fast-paced modern society people spend so much time thinking about the future – worrying about anything and everything – not just what will happen tomorrow, but what will happen in 10 year’s time, in 20 year’s time. They worry about themselves, they worry about their loved ones, they worry about the future of the planet and the increase in natural disasters, about wildlife disappearing, interest rates rising, water levels rising, water restrictions, petrol prices and the list goes on. The ego tries so hard to control its environment – to help you feel ‘safe’ amongst all this chaos – but the harder you try to control life, the more there is to worry about. Eventually all the mental energy that it takes to sustain a level of constant worry and anxiety takes it toll, and fatigue sets in. Persistent, circulating thoughts keep you awake at night, and consume you during the day. You become snappy and irritable, and more than likely take your stress out on the ones you love. You just can’t seem to relax. You start to turn to a glass of wine, then two, or three, in the evening just to ‘wind down’. The sympathetic nervous system is so ‘strung out’ that you need sedatives to sleep at night and stimulants to keep you awake during the day – coffee, tea, coke, guarana etc. When the nervous system just can’t cope with this state of hyper-reactivity any more, then the scales swing to the other side – leading to apathy and depression.

The more you hold on, the more you react. People play out the same behaviours, again and again, and each time are slaves to their emotional reactions. They can hear themselves raising their voice or getting angry and frustrated, or just bursting into tears – but just can’t seem to stop it.

They start to wish ‘if only I had more money, a bigger house, a better car, a new relationship, a better job, a better looking body etc etc’ – then I would feel happy. They struggle and strive each day towards bigger and better – whilst missing out on the present day, the present moment. Time passes by while they are still living for the future.

If only we could all just accept. Accept and be grateful for everything that we are blessed with in life. When we are so focused on the negatives, we fail to see all the amazingly wonderful things in our lives that we often take for granted. A roof over our heads, hot and cold running water, a bed to sleep in, food to eat, and, not to forget the most important, life itself. We are here on this earth, in this living, breathing body to experience physical existence in all its glory – that is something to be thankful for in itself.

If we just invested 15 minutes each day in being still and to giving thanks for all we have in our lives then the world would be a better place. People would smile more, people would help each other more, we would ‘lighten up’ and not take life so seriously. When we start to accept and go with the flow of life – with its ups, and its downs – and not resist or react – then life becomes fun and enjoyable again. Look beneath the surface and you will find a divine plan to all that has happened in your life, and know that it is only you who creates your reality. You create your state – you are the master of your emotions, not the other way around. When you realize that you are more than just a mind, an ego, a personality, and that you are a divine being that knows only love, then you can choose how you wish to respond to life – from a place of love, or a place of fear. To respond, or to react – you have the choice.

Awareness and acceptance are the first steps to freedom. If you could stop and become aware of your fear, compulsive worrying, stressing and reacting, and break the cycle, then with acceptance comes strength, optimism and courage. Courage to make the changes in your life that will reflect your highest intentions. Courage to take responsibility for your own thoughts, words and actions. When you are in a constant, unaware state of ‘reaction’ you are in victim mode – blaming other people and outside circumstances for the way your life is, instead of looking within yourself for the answer.

When you are willing to look within, practice gratitude and acceptance and to break this relentless cycle, then you will notice your tiredness start to dissipate, you will sleep more soundly, and wake with energy and vitality, and a sense of wonder of what the day may bring …