“If you’re lost, don’t try to figure it out—activate your life force instead.” – Phil Stutz
Listen, I’m in my 40s. And let’s be real, it feels a bit like I’ve been sleepwalking through life. My body? Forget about it. It’s seen better days, to put it mildly. Between the demands of work, the joys (and occasional horrors) of raising a teenager, and the general chaos of life, self-care has become a distant memory.
I used to be a sporty fiend. From biking and rollerblading to taekwondo and muay thai, I was always on the move. Aerobics (remember those glory days?), yoga – you name it, I was there. But somewhere along the line, it all fell by the wayside. Kids, work, the dreaded “C-word” (Covid), it all took its toll. My energy levels plummeted, and my pants size… well, let’s just say they required a serious intervention. This clearly shows how I’ve neglected my relationship with my own body.
Then, like a beacon of hope in a sea of stretchy pants, came Jonah Hill’s documentary. It wasn’t just about mental health, though that was a huge part of it. It introduced me to the concept of “Life Force,” a framework developed by his therapist, Phil Stutz.
Stutz explains that Life Force is basically your inner compass, your guide when you feel lost. But here’s the catch: you have to activate it. And how do you do that? By focusing on three key relationships:
” If you think of it as a pyramid, there’s three levels of the life force: the bottom level is your relationship with your physical body; the second layer is your relationship with other people; and the highest level is your relationship with yourself “
– Life Force – Phil Stutz
Your Body: “Get your body working better & it always work” – Stutz’s wisdom rings true. This is the foundation. Think of it as building a strong house – you need a solid base. Movement, nourishing food, and sleep are your best friends here. No more late-night snacking and unhealthy binges! I’m back in the gym, and I’m actually enjoying it (who knew?). I enjoy lifting weights that make me feel weak (because I barely lift more than 5kg), but who would have thought that I, once a weightlifting avoider, would find love in 45 minutes of dumbbell-slinging and bodyweight torture in F45? It’s where you discover motivation by lifting something heavier than your life… and maybe your current mood. And I’ve started being besties with the green gang from the veggies town and the rainbow gang from the fruity world. Nothing too extreme, just taking it slow and steady without sacrificing my sanity.
Your Relationships: This one hit home. I’ve become a bit of a hermit lately. My social battery? Drained. But Stutz emphasizes the importance of connection. So, I’m making an effort to reach out, even if it’s just a quick coffee date or a casual get-together.
Your Self: This is where the magic happens. Stutz recommends journaling, which I’ve been trying to do (with varying degrees of success). I’ve also started this blog, hoping to rediscover my love for writing. I’m even dipping my toes into some spiritual exploration, just trying to connect with that inner wisdom. This part made me realize that all this time we mostly only scratch the surface, turns out there’s more treasure deep inside, gotta dig deeper.
“The best way to say it is to get yourself in a relationship with your unconscious, because nobody knows what’s in their unconscious unless they activate it. And one trick about this is writing. If you start to write, the writing is like a mirror. It reflects what’s going on in your unconscious, and things will come out if you write in journal form that you didn’t even know you knew.” – Phil Stutz
It’s a work in progress, let’s be honest. Some days I feel like I’m winning, others… not so much. But the key takeaway is this: it’s never too late to re-awaken your Life Force. Embrace the journey, and remember to be kind to yourself along the way.
And a huge thank you to Jonah Hill for sharing his journey and introducing me to these powerful tools. Thanks also to Phil Stutz for creating these tools. You, my friends, are a lifesaver (literally!).
P.S. I highly recommend watching this documentary. It delves into so much more than just Life Force, and the insights offered are incredibly valuable and applicable to everyday life. Watch Stutz on Netflix
” DO THE PYRAMID THEN EVERYTHIN ELSE WILL FALL IN PLACE”
” THE ONLY WAY TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING, LIKE WHO YOU ARE, IS TO ACTIVATE YOUR LIFE FORCE, BECAUSE LIFE FORCE IS THE ONLY PART THAT ACTUALLY IS CAPABLE OF GUIDING YOU WHEN YOU’RE LOST”
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