Whether we call it confidence, happiness, well-being, or serenity, what we are fundamentally referring to is a certain notion of energy. The happier we are, the more we tend to move towards higher energy spheres. In his book “Power vs. Force,” David R. Hawkins explains this. He even precisely outlines the hierarchy of emotions.
Our choices are conditioned by this search for energy
A large part of our choices is, in fact, aimed at increasing our energy. Given that we have several physical layers, we try in turn to nourish these, depending on our awareness of each. The first level, the most obvious, is the physical body. By eating or resting, for example, we help to strengthen our physical body. Then, there are other levels that become increasingly subtle. Next is the astral or emotional body, which is the seat of emotions and is characterized by movement. Following that is the mental body, the seat of thought, and finally, the causal or spiritual body, which is the realm of intuition. We are always seeking to strengthen one of these four bodies.
Friends
A rather effective way to nourish our emotional body is to maintain friendships. These are characterized by the movement of emotions, giving us the opportunity to experience positive emotions more frequently.
Intellectual pursuit
Scholarship or the continuous development of our cognitive skills are ways to nourish our mental body. This pursuit provides certain happiness, but it has its limits, and it is unfortunate that intellectuals of our time are often confined to this stage and have not managed to envision an even more subtle way of achieving energy and happiness.
Mana
Polynesian societies have defined the concept of mana, which has subsequently been adopted in popular culture, particularly in video games. It refers to a form of prestige associated with the spiritual body. Someone with a high level of mana will have performed noble deeds, particularly through feats requiring a high degree of courage, thus growing their spiritual body. Enlightened sages also have a high degree of mana, but their achievements belong to the realms of the inner worlds. People who have a high degree of spiritual development are generally the happiest, as this happiness touches the most subtle dimension of their being, namely their soul.