https://earthconnection.co.

uk/journal/
mitochondrial-health-amp-the-physiology-
of-energy-amp-willpower-x-the-being-
method

Mitochondrial Health & the Physiology of

Willpower x The Being Method

Before getting to the importance of our mitochondria and how they can
influence our willpower (yes, really!), let’s zoom out and take a look at the
bigger picture. In the natural world, everything is connected with a
symbiotic relationship existing between all living things. We are mirrors of
this supportive, cyclical system of reciprocation; our bodies existing as ONE
whole being, rather than a collection of disparate parts, as the Western
medical world would often have us believe. All these parts work together in
perfect choreographed harmony to keep us alive and kicking; fighting fit.
When we are given the label of a specific dis-ease or ailment, it can often
feel very limiting, as if we are resigned to a certain fate. Here, it can be
helpful to remember that our bodies are incredible self-healing entities,
always working to bring us back to a place of homeostasis. Any symptoms
that we might be experiencing are calls to action - little flags waving at us to
sit up and take notice, and perhaps tweak our diets and our daily routines to
support us in bettering our mental and physical health. And when things are
more serious, to seek guidance externally, from a professional.

It can also be helpful to consider health as a form of movement; as our

body’s ability to adapt and find balance whatever our circumstances. Health
is a flow state. An ocean of tides, which lift us up and bring us back down to
Earth as we learn to ride the waves with grace and acceptance. Some of the
ways in which our bodies adapt to change might not, at first, be welcome.
When change is unexpected or chaotic, our stress levels can rise and
troublesome symptoms might appear, which we don’t fully understand or
know how to manage. But we can flip the switch on any negativity that arises
by viewing our symptoms as a sophisticated and valuable communication
system designed to help us understand ourselves more deeply - allowing us
to get to a place where we know what our bodies need to find equilibrium
once more. To ask, what is my body trying to tell me? What do these
symptoms signify beyond the surface? Often there is a more complex story to
unravel. When one aspect of our health is off, it has a ripple effect. An
emotional blockage may manifest as an eruption on our skin; internal
inflammation as back pain; or a blood sugar imbalance as hormonal issues
and painful menstruation. This extends to our energy levels too. When we
feel sluggish, unmotivated or stuck in a rut, it’s easy to see our failure to
get-up-and go and get things done as a personality issue, but this simply
isn’t the case. More often than not, it’s a matter of biology. And this goes
right down to the cellular level.

Our bodies contain around 37 trillion cells; all of them demanding a constant
supply of energy to maintain the biological order that keeps them alive and
functioning efficiently. This energy is fed to them by the mitochondria, of
which there are thousands located in every cell. Here, proteins, carbs and
fats are broken down to provide the body with adenosine triphosphate (ATP),
which is the principle molecule for storing and transferring energy in cells.
So, what we think of as energy, is actually ATP. Every day, our
mitochondrial friends generate and process our body weight in ATP, which
captures chemical energy from food, releasing and transporting it around the
body to fuel various cellular functions. This energy not only serves as the
spark that ignites all our internal physiological processes, but it also helps
us get things done on a day to day basis, boosting our reserves of motivation
and willpower. We have all gone through energetic slumps where we feel we
are lacking in willpower - that natural get-up-and-go frequency we need to
be able to tap into to remain productive and alert. Oftentimes, this feels like
a personality defect. It’s not! It’s actually a matter of our mitochondria and a
reflection of how healthy and abundant they are. This is essentially the
cellular basis of being tired.

We are not lacking in willpower, we are simply lacking ATP. When our
mitochondria are depleted or functioning inefficiently, we don’t have the
energy we need to thrive and reach our full potential. When energy levels are
low, our innately intelligent bodies start funneling the energy we do have to
fuel essential functions like digestion and heart-rate stabilization. This is a
good thing, but it does mean that we are left with less of an energetic charge
to foster external change. We are unable to create positive change in our
lives because our bodies are physically depleted. This can also occur when
we are experiencing an illness like a cold or flu where we need more energy
to heal. During these times, we tend to run on autopilot, sticking to the same
well-worn routines we call on every day, doing the bare minimum while we
regain our wellbeing.

If you feel frequently fatigued, it can be because your body is struggling to

produce enough ATP, starving your cells of energy. As we age, our bodies
naturally produce fewer mitochondria, but ATP depletion can also be a
consequence of unsupportive lifestyle practices, nutrient-deficient diets and
a lack of exposure to natural sunlight. The most significant ways in which
we can boost the health of our mitochondria, and thus our levels of ATP, is
through the basic healing trifecta of diet, sleep and movement. If we work to
improve the health of our mitochondria and increase their population, we can
fundamentally change our lives for the better. We can start living in
alignment with our dreams and desires because we will have the energy to
forge new neural pathways that will allow us to expand and take steps in a
different direction.

How do we do this?

WITH LIGHT

Every chemical reaction in the body requires energy - gradually depleting

our reserves if enough is not made to refill our tanks. This is a concept tied
to the laws of thermodynamics which states that energy in a closed system is
always decreasing. We know that the complexities of our physiology extend
beyond this theory and that natural sunlight (among other things) can create
energy in the body, supporting and regenerating our mitochondria. Getting
outside in the morning and (carefully) exposing our skin to red light, as well
as avoiding the toxic artificial blue light from our many devices, helps us
maintain mitochondrial health, firing up our energy reserves, as well as
promoting good mental health. The sun energizes us, nourishes us and
maintains our natural circadian rhythms, and when infrared light from the
sun hits our skin, it is absorbed by the photoreceptors in our cells, setting off
various essential metabolic processes. Our mitochondria feed on oxygen and
carbs, but they also feed on light. Light stimulates the production of ATP
and the more ATP we have, the more efficiently our bodies are able to
absorb nutrients and expel waste.

WITH NATURAL WHOLE FOODS

Mitochondria suffer in toxic environments, so it’s important to keep our

internal landscape clean and clear. Drinking fresh, filtered water and eating
a diet of natural, whole foods, including a wide variety of herbs and plants is
imperative for good mitochondrial health - which is crucial for the proper
functioning of our nerves, hormone-secreting glands, detox organs and even
our thoughts. We can boost ATP with a combination of vibrant plant-based
ingredients, fatty acids and protein from lean meats like chicken and turkey,
and fatty fish such as salmon, and nuts. We also want to keep an eye on our
blood sugar balance as sudden spikes can increase feelings of fatigue and
brain fog, making motivation that much harder to access.

WITH BREATHWORK

Mitochondria are in fact a very ancient form of bacteria that invaded the
human cell, enmeshing with our being to change our evolutionary ability to
metabolize energy, through the process of cellular respiration. This is one of
the reasons why breathwork has such incredible healing potential - because
when we manipulate our oxygen intake, (with breath holds, for example), we
can trigger the body to produce more mitochondria, which in turn leads to
the production of more energy and more life force. Breathwork also helps to
reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, putting us in a parasympathetic (rest
and digest) state. Here we are able to use our energy reserves to get things
done rather than draining them by trying to keep ourselves calm when we are
in the hyper-alert, activated sympathetic state of fight or flight.

WITH COLD THERAPY

Cold plunges are great for mitochondrial health, stimulating enhanced

electron flow as the mitochondrial proteins are pulled closer together so that
their journey along the electron transport chain is more efficient.
Environmental stressors like cold water (and exercise) which increase
cellular energy demand trigger mitochondrial biogenesis which is the process
by which cells increase mitochondrial numbers. So anytime you put yourself
in a safe / purposefully stressed state you help your mitochondria remain
healthy and robust. Healthier mitochondria lead to more energy for the body
to conduct its necessary business and more energy for us to get things done.
In addition to cold plunges, we can also practice cold therapy or cryotherapy
by taking a cold shower or bath, jumping in a lake or swimming in a cold
ocean. Like so many healing modalities, cold therapy is hundreds of years
old, historically used to manage paid and promote full-body healing, as well
as being useful in reducing anxiety. While it can feel challenging initially,
you will emerge feeling energized and refreshed. A cold rinse at the end of
your shower is a good place to start as you learn to build tolerance before
moving onto the intensity of something like an ice bath.

WITH EXERCISE

Exercise and movement are imperative to good health. When we become

sedentary, we stagnate emotionally, mentally and physically. Our circulatory
and lymphatic systems suffer and we can experience a build up of emotional
and environmental toxins in the body. Exercise increases our energy-
promoting neurotransmitters in the brain such as serotonin and dopamine.
This is why we feel so good after moving our bodies. It also improves the
strength and efficiency of our muscles so they require less energy / conserve
more ATP. Find a form of movement that works for you and practice it
regularly. Studies have shown that around 20 minutes of low-to-moderate
aerobic activity, three days a week can improve energy levels.

Remember, we are cyclical beings with natural energetic ups and downs. In
winter, we may feel less inspired to do as much and more inclined to just be,
and that’s ok! Every day / week / month is different. It’s when we start to
experience longer bouts of unexpected fatigue or lack of willpower that we
might want to tap into the ways in which we can support our mitochondrial
health. When we start to cultivate a more loving and understanding
relationship with our bodies, nourishing and nurturing the complex
ecosystem within, we gain empowerment and agency over our whole lives.
When we are well, we have the energy to create the life we truly desire and
to help others create their dream lives too.