What if vitality isn’t about doing more—but listening more?
Author: Esther Sarlo, BA, Founder | Visionary ~ Mynd Myself
Have you ever felt depleted, exhausted, or just “done?”
Are you feeling any of that right now?
I have felt those things too. And while I’m thankful I don’t live in that state, I understand how easily it can become familiar—especially in a world that often feels divided and overstimulated.
Definitions
Let’s look at some official definitions together. The Oxford English Dictionary defines vitality as “the state of being strong and active; energy. The power of giving continuance of life, present in all living things.”
The American Psychological Association defines vitality as “a dynamic aspect of well-being marked by subjective energy and aliveness.”
The Lifestyle Sustainability Directory talks about psychological vitality “being the inner strength and energetic engagement required for a meaningful life, contributing to personal well-being and a thriving planet.”
Each of these definitions speak to energy. But I’m interested in something deeper than energy alone.
What Vitality Means to Me
Living into my inner vitality is of utmost importance, now more than ever. I have come to see
Vitality as a life force I can tap into when I get intentional. It doesn’t happen by accident. It feels like a reservoir I can access when my body, mynd, spirit, and purpose are in coherent relationship with each other.
It is not about performance or speed, intensity, or being in constant motion. Vitality isn’t something to manufacture or chase.
Rather, vitality is something to be. Do you recognize this theme that we return to regularly in these Mynd Myself blogs? What I do is important—but how I be, how I show up, how I embody who I really am is foundational.
My vitality is a reflection of my capacity to adapt, recover, and engage with life fully—without depleting myself. It’s an energy that I cultivate—and I access it most fully when I am:
- Nourished appropriately
- Regulated in my nervous system
- Aligned with my values
- Connected in meaningful ways with those in my world
- Living in rhythm rather than reaction
People often say to me, “I want some of what she’s having.” And no, they’re not referring to the famous “When Harry Met Sally” scene with Meg Ryan! I’m assuming that people are seeing how alive, vibrant, and energized I feel. And I’m 62 so that feels pretty wonderful, if you ask me!
Lately, I have reflected on how much I genuinely love my life—and how grateful I am for it. I appreciate my wonderful partner in life, Bill. I’m also thankful for some specific, leading-edge, light-based technologies I use that support my strength, stamina, and daily energy levels. I feel incredibly blessed by the clean water and food we have access to! I also never want to take for granted the access I have to nature and light. I know it makes such a difference. As spring arrives, I look forward to incorporating my outdoor morning ritual again…I can’t wait! At the end of 2024 I experienced a powerful demonstration of how important it is to be in the rhythms of nature. It’s our natural state that we are so often disconnected from in this modern world.
On the infrequent occasions when my energy ‘flags’ and I get discouraged, I remind myself of how much I have to be grateful for. I also take some quiet time to reflect on the following questions.
Reflections
- hen do I feel most quietly alive—not stimulated, not busy, but genuinely steady and present?
- What consistently restores my energy—and what consistently drains it, even if I’ve normalized it?
- Is my current pace aligned with my body’s rhythms, or am I overriding subtle signals to keep up?
- Where in my life do I feel coherent—where my values, actions, and energy match? And where do they feel misaligned?
- If vitality were less about doing more and more about listening more, what might I begin to notice differently?
Final thoughts
Vitality is not simply about stamina.
It is aliveness.
It is attention.
It is stillness.
It is connection.
It is rhythm.
And perhaps most importantly—it is remembering that vitality emerges from your relationships:
to your body,
to others,
to your purpose,
to your self.
Vitality is strength with sensitivity.
Energy with discernment.
Aliveness rooted in awareness.
What will you commit to being (and doing) to strengthen your vitality?
With Love,
E
