Determinación de costos fijos

Please come back to the following chart on the date that you entered in the box “date nine months from now” in the “Growing from Within” chart at the end of part 1.

Answer these questions without looking back to see what answers you gave nine months ago. Then you can compare your answers and reflect on your experience.

It doesn’t matter if you have maintained a regular qigong practice or followed any of the recommendations in this book. Life is a process of constant change, and it is always helpful to take a few minutes to review your experience. Please remember that every person is unique. These charts are meant for your personal, private use. Please treat them like an intimate conversation with yourself.

Date today: Date on which you completed the

“Growing from Within” chart:

How is anxiety showing up in your life these days?

Do you see any common patterns in the anxiety you feel at home, in your workplace, or elsewhere?

How frequently do you experience fear or panic?

If you feel overwhelmed and have feelings of despair, how are you coping with them?

If you have been using this workbook to help you with your anxiety, have your family or friends noticed any differences in you?

Working with the Energy Around You 167 How would you describe the pattern of your energy these days?

Do you experience much fatigue?

If you have been using this workbook, have you noticed any changes in the tension in your body?

What is your normal pattern of sleep now?

How do you feel when you wake up in the morning now?

Are you experiencing any digestive problems?

What are the main ways you have used this workbook to help with your anxiety?

What is the main challenge you have faced in the qigong exercises you have experimented with?

168 The Qigong Workbook for Anxiety

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any times or conditions in which it is not good to practice qigong outdoors?

It is best to practice qigong outdoors during the day. If you are an early riser and want to start practicing before dawn, that is fine, especially if you are able to arrange to include the sunrise in the period of your practice. Normally, you should try practice with sun-light striking your back. Sun energy connects with an important acupuncture point in the small of your back, known as mingmen (ming men), the “gate of fire.” Facing strong sunlight can make you squint and tense up, thus impeding the flow of energy. It is best not to practice outdoors if it is misty, foggy, or rainy. Damp conditions can also impede the flow of energy.

What happens if dogs or other animals see a person “standing like a tree”?

Animals have a natural attraction to strong energy. Dogs and other pets, whether at home or outdoors, may take an interest in a person doing qigong. If they know you, they may wish to lie down near you or be in the area where you are practicing. If they don’t know you, they might run over to you to check you out. If a dog you don’t know is barking or jumping up and down, it is best to remain still and not make any sudden movements, in case this is startling. If you want to move away, lower your arms to a normal position and walk calmly and slowly on. Once when I was in a park with one of my students, a squirrel ran up his leg and sat for a while on his shoulder. We had a good laugh about how he was doing quite well at standing like a tree.

What should I do if there are no changes I can make to the conditions in my home or workplace?

Sometimes it is simply impossible to make physical changes to your environment. In that case, it is important to realize that regular, consistent practice of qigong creates a strong energetic field that not only helps you internally, but also acts as a sphere of protection around you. This is sometimes referred to as the “aura” and is what can be seen using bioelectrography, also known as Kirlian photography, which picks up the electrical field around a person. In the section on your workplace (“Where You Work,” in part 5), I give specific suggestions to help you cope with the intense energy of many contemporary offices.

Working with the Energy Around You 169 Can you pick up other people’s illnesses by practicing qigong or exchanging energy with them?

If you are in the same room as a person with a cough or a cold, you can pick that up through the normal route of physical infection. That’s natural and can happen whether you are practicing qigong with them or not. But the practice of qigong has a positive effect on your immune system and helps you bounce back faster if you do have any kind of illness or injury. So the most important thing is to try to establish a good daily founda-tion of refreshing your energy. If you do that, you will be at less risk of becoming ill, no matter how you come in contact with illnesses.