Pep is a special kind of energy, and the more of it we have, the better. But to understand what pep is, you need to understand what it isn’t. It all has to do with energy states that every one of us carries. They can be physical and emotional, and we can both emanate and absorb them. 

In the first place, pep is inherently at odds with low energy. Everyone enters a low-energy state of being sometimes, and it’s not inherently problematic. It’s just those occasions when we don’t want to do or think about much in particular. The question for you is: are those occasions too frequent or too prolonged? And how often are you allowing low-energy people into your space? 

Let’s set aside cases where a person has chronically low energy levels due to a legitimate medical ailment. Instead, this is about habitually low energy. That’s when someone who is of otherwise sound body and mind lives a sedentary, lazy, distracted, or uninspired life. It requires little to no effort or intent. After all, lounging around is much easier than leveling up, and that makes a habitually low-energy state a breeding ground for stagnation. 

Still more pernicious than low energy is negative energy, which often manifests as complaining, worrying, whining, and blaming. These are all expressions of a foul mood. Of course, life is not perfect, but what’s to be gained from pissing and moaning about it all the time? Some people revel in advertising their hard-luck stories, as if their struggles are unique. I know they just want to be heard, but you’d be wise to keep people who are chronic complainers and worriers at arm’s length because it’s negative energy that you don’t need in your life. More importantly, don’t let yourself be that person. 

Despite its challenges, life ain’t all bad, and there are still things that must get done regardless. When you’ve got responsibilities, goals, and aspirations, high energy and enthusiasm make it easier to move the needle, if not the mountain. In fact, the combination of high energy and enthusiasm is exactly what the “Pep” in Bounce Pep is. 

When you have pep in your step, you move with a purpose, pace, and positivity that set you apart from the loafers, pessimists, and complainers. You emanate that energy state, and people around you feel it. At the same time, be intentional about keeping yourself in the company of other high-energy people who are in shape, inspired, and living with a clear purpose. If you’re going to absorb energy from others around you, it needs to come from them. 

The good news is that high energy is something you can create. My book, Be The Total Package, has a whole chapter about it, but the science of it is this: working out physiologically creates more energy in your body through the process of mitochondrial biogenesis. But don’t get caught up on the big words. The gist is that if you want your default energy level to be high, just keep working out frequently and vigorously. It's the best way I know of to rev up your body and mind simultaneously. 

As for enthusiasm, it comes from having something to look forward to. That means you should always have aspirations and rewards planned for a job well done. Those are different things for different people, but just having something to anticipate in the future keeps you going on those days that aren’t much fun. It can even be something simple. In the summertime, I love to reward myself with a generous portion of watermelon after a big workout. That alone increases my motivation to train. What, then, are your aspirations? And what rewards are you looking forward to enjoying? Be sure to always have something on your horizon. 

So now you know what “Pep” is. Put it together with some “Bounce,” and you'll be a force of nature. 

Sayonara until next time.