It has long been considered that we have within us three distinctive types of energy.  The first is Shen, which represents our mental energies.  It is the sculpting force of our thoughts, our personality and emotions.  When shen is high, we are creative, happy, positive.  When it is low, we feel mentally exhausted and can succumb to ailments such as depression.

Another energy which is more commonly heard of in the western world is Chi or Qi.  This energy represents the “life force”.  It is our physical energy which powers the body from day to day.  It is everywhere around us, we breathe it in and it revitalizes us.  It’s the form of energy popularized in movies such as “Star Wars”, Eastern influenced holistic medical practices and even children’s anime.

The third energy is Jing, which is our core essence.  It is the initial essence from our beginning.  It is the DNA of energy so to speak.  It is jing that affects aging and lifespan.  Often considered an energy reserve, jing is used up through such things as overworking, stressful or harmful lifestyles or even excessive sexual activities (although the latter usually applies mainly to men).

Jing is also the only energy that can be physically manifested as it is a “compressed” energy.  Some believe the original tai’chi excercises taught the students how to compress chi energy into jing and use it as an actual forceful energy against an opponent.  Although these teachings are no longer widely known (if not lost forever) the concept of jing energy being used in hand to hand combat is no stranger to the Street Fighter style video game market.

All of the energies are interrelated, but the easiest to influence is the chi.  Which is why there are so many books, diets, videos and exercises designed to help us keep our chi up.  The foundations all begin with eating right, treating your body right and exercising.  From there you can find various methods of breathing, meditation, visualization, etc. to enhance the flow of chi through you.

Although it is theoretically possible to replace jing by compressing chi, it’s not commonly a natural practice so in order for us to live long, healthy lives, we need to avoid tapping into that reserve as often as possible.  Generally, we pull upon our reserves whenever the day to day energies are not enough to sustain our activities.  It doesn’t mean we need to avoid being energetic, it means we need to avoid things that drain us without opportunity for replenishment.

In the Western world, those things are numerous:  demanding careers, financial worries, perscription drugs for everything, addictions to things, status and sex.  Even exercise can be excessive when it’s the result of a drive to obtain some physical ideal appearance upon which a self worth is based.

My advice is to go get one of those books on chi.  Relax a bit, focus on your breathing, listen to the things around you.  You know what things in your life are draining your essence.  It’s not a secret that only an “enlightened one” can realize.  Make a list if you need to and then address each item one by one.  Obviously some of the items you simply may not be able to avoid, but some you can at least lessen their demand on you and likewise your jing.