Energy as the Foundation of Spirituality
Today I want to share some thoughts on how to improve your energy and, in turn, your spirituality. This is based on personal experience and opinion only. In our view, spirituality is the effective use of energy for health, happiness, and overall well-being.
The Role of Sleep in Energy and Well-Being
One of the most important ways to support your energy is by improving sleep. Sleep allows the body to repair itself and gives the brain the rest it needs to rejuvenate. Unfortunately, for many people, good sleep is difficult to achieve. This can be caused by medications, disrupted circadian rhythms, aging, or medical conditions that only a doctor can properly address.
Aging, Sleep Disruption, and Medical Limits
From our own experience, sleep has become more challenging as we’ve grown older. We are in our 70s and often wake several times a night to urinate, which makes falling back asleep difficult. As people age, bladder capacity can decrease significantly, leading to more frequent nighttime trips to the bathroom. We’ve discussed this issue with multiple doctors. For men, medications like Flomax are often recommended to help reduce prostate-related symptoms, but in our case, and after trying many different options, results have been limited.
Searching for Restorative Sleep
This leads to the bigger question: how do you get the restorative sleep your body and brain need, especially when medical solutions are not fully effective? One factor is melatonin. As we age, natural melatonin production declines, starting as early as the teenage years. This affects circadian rhythm and can contribute to sleep problems. We tried many natural approaches, including melatonin tablets, 5-HTP, and protein supplements like glycine, but none worked consistently for us.
What Actually Helped Us
What did help was liquid melatonin, which worked quickly and was not habit-forming for us. It helped us fall asleep faster, though it did not prevent waking during the night. We also found that reducing water intake after about 2 p.m. and avoiding drinking much before bedtime helped us get a few uninterrupted hours of sleep. If we woke up later in the night, we sometimes used stress-support supplements such as cortisol-management formulas or ashwagandha, which seemed to help.
Considering Energy-Support Products
Because of these experiences, we are considering offering a small selection of energy-related products in our store. Until now, we have mainly offered books and merchandise, but we’ve found certain supplements personally helpful and want to make them available to others who may benefit. Some people find prescription sleep aids effective, but they did not work well for us. Instead, we found better results with natural products.
Supplements We Found Helpful
Examples include:
- Integrative Therapeutics – Cortisol Manager
- Tribe Organics – Ashwagandha KSM-66
- Designs for Health – Magnesium Glycinate Complex
For daytime energy (not sleep), we also like: - Raw Herbal Extracts – Five Ginseng
- Ocean’s Alive Recharge, which contains marine phytoplankton and supports daytime energy
Transparency and Next Steps
We are not affiliated with any of these companies and do not receive compensation from them directly. Any small fees come only through standard online referral programs. We also encourage consulting a healthcare professional before using any supplements, especially if you have medical conditions or take medications.
At this point, we are only exploring the idea of offering a broader line of energy-related products. Nothing is finalized, but we will share updates as things develop.
