Science has shown that everything in the universe, including us humans, is made of energy. This isn't news. What I find interesting is realizing that our energy constantly expands or contracts, like an accordion. The result: nothing less than a different perspective on life. If we consciously observed everything we do, think, or say, as well as the impact everything around us has, we would realize the direct or indirect effect this has on our energy field.

Since we tend to wander through life on autopilot in our daily lives, I think it's important to realize how when our energy expands, we feel happy; however, when it contracts, we experience the opposite.

At first glance, this principle seems very obvious, right? The question then becomes, why don't we intentionally pursue everything that expands us?

Take the test

To test this, I invite you to do a little exercise: stand up straight, pull your shoulders back, open your arms as wide as possible, inhale deeply, lift your face, and smile. Close your eyes and notice how you feel.

Words like open, free, full, light, and happy are likely to come to mind. This is expansion.

Now think of someone you love, admire, or enjoy being with. Observe what happens. Whenever we feel happy, our energy expands, flooding us and penetrating our body like the rays of the sun. In fact, scientists, by observing the responses to our body's functioning, can determine our levels of energetic expansion.

If, during these moments of happiness, you were connected to instruments that detect various functions, you would be able to observe how not only your energy expands, but everything in your body functions better, such as: oxygen absorption increases, blood vessels dilate, your muscles relax, your heartbeat becomes smooth and rhythmic, and brain function is optimized.

Instead, now round your back, shrug your shoulders, cross your arms, clench your fists, furrow your brow, and take shallow, rapid breaths. At the same time, think of someone you fear, are upset with, or don't like. How do you feel? This is basically what we experience when we indulge in negative thoughts. Just writing this already has my body reacting negatively; I imagine the same thing happens to you, dear reader. It's incredible how sensitive energy is. Notice how, as you do this, words like anxiety, heaviness, something closing inside you, agitated, contracted, come to mind.

You'll have noticed that all negative emotions—fear, envy, anger, sadness, jealousy, and the like—constrict us physically and literally block the flow of energy. When we experience this, our muscles tense, our breathing becomes short and shallow, and our blood circulation is restricted. Of course, all of the above causes stress hormones to rise and our immune system to become depressed, which also increases the risk of infection and disease.

If we consider the fact that our mind produces around 60,000 thoughts a day, and that, like a saw being maneuvered to cut down a tree, our mind constantly travels from the past to the future and from the future to the past, without stopping in the present, we can see that this causes us a feeling of constant discontent.

Monitor

Just as today's cars come equipped with Waze, and no matter where we are, this satellite-based application directs us to our destination, in the same way, we all have an internal Waze that directs us toward living a more fulfilling life. The challenge is to pay attention to the feedback it sends us. To notice, for example, what and who expands us, as well as what and who contracts us.

It's even important to put it in writing. In one column, write down everything you believe expands you, and in the other, everything you feel contracts you. Think about your life, your work, your home, your relationships, your various activities. If you have doubts, as you reflect on each one, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and listen to your body. When you're done, review the list and become aware of which activities, things, and people make you happy and pursue them as much as possible. Conversely, by becoming clearer about the things and people that contract you, you'll know where you need to change course.

There are even attitudes like reacting like a victim, complaining about everything, blaming others or circumstances, worrying, criticizing, and judging—those with which we ourselves cause the contraction of energy. On the other hand, by reacting with our heads, focusing on solutions, learning from lessons, thinking positively, accepting, trusting others, and appreciating the good that happens to us, we open, free, and enlarge our energy field.

Let's use that great tool that is our own Waze to realize that happiness is just a thought away.