Conflict surrounds us everywhere:
- Road rage
- Politics
- Authoritarian bosses/leaders
- Social media (kind of joking but not really!)
These are all examples of Level 2 Energy in our daily lives.
It’s not necessarily all bad though…
In my post about Level 1 energy, we learned that the core of Level 1 is feeling like things are out of your control. There is no movement at Level 1 because you feel like nothing you could do would matter.
In Level 2, although still highly catabolic, you start to take action… And, action is key to getting results!
Since action is key, let’s jump in and take a closer look at Level 2 energy!
[If you want to just read a brief overview of all seven levels, you can view that HERE.]
Level 2 (catabolic): Anger. Combativeness. Resisting or fighting energy.
The world has no shortage of Level 2 energy, that’s for certain. The examples above and more below will explore further.
In the Energy overview blog, I used a Level 2 example of someone trying to change their eating habits: “If Joe brings donuts for us at work one more time, I might punch him in the face!”
Like Level 1, Level 2 Energy is also highly catabolic.
The core thought is “Conflict”. Other associated thoughts can include:
- “I win, you lose”
- “I’m right, you’re wrong”
- “I hate you”
- “I know better than you”
The core emotion is “Anger”. Other associated emotions include:
- Hatred
- Resentment
- Blame
- Greed
- Pride
The resulting action is “Defiance”. Other associated actions include:
- Focus is on others
Stress- Disappointment
- Resistance
- Force
- Control
- Antagonism
- Entitlement
When you blame or judge others; when you need to be right and win at all costs; when you feel like if you don’t fight for yourself you won’t get what you want – you are in conflict mode and experiencing Level 2 Energy.
At level 2, everything tends to be viewed as black or white, right or wrong, good or bad. These judgments limit our options, as we don’t consider the full scope of possibilities. Instead, you are only focused on what’s wrong, what’s broken and who/what’s to blame.
Level 2 Energy is all about putting yourself first, even at the expense of others.
But like I said earlier, it doesn’t always have to be bad. Moving from Level 1, into a Level 2 response is actually an improvement because, as mentioned above, there is action at Level 2.
There are both advantages and disadvantages at Level 2 (as there are at every energy level).
For example, if you are trying to lose weight and have been feeling like the entire world is conspiring against you… between food-centric holidays, peer pressure from friends or family, tempting foods around you all the time at home and at work, no time for exercise – when you’ve been feeling like there’s nothing you can do, so you do nothing – that’s very Level 1.
When you finally get FED UP and PISSED OFF at the situation to the point where you be like Popeye and say “THAT’S ALL I CAN STANDS AND I CAN’T STANDS NO MORE!!!” and whip out your proverbial can of spinach and jump into action – perhaps you go through your house and throw out all the junk food, or you confront friends/family/co-workers about brining that food around you; when you decide to get in some exercise even if it means getting to work late (not recommended by the way… your coach did not suggest you do that)… now you are taking action, now you are in Level 2 – and that is an improvement!
The real issue with action at Level 2 is that it is generally not sustainable. As soon as that resolve fades, we fall into our old habits. Ever start a diet with the gusto I just described only to peter-out a few weeks later?
In the same way that your ego-maniac boss can get you to jump into short-term action with threats and coercion, you can do the same with yourself. And just as your boss isn’t inspiring your long-term loyalty, neither are you by pushing yourself to action at Level 2. To STAY in motion and continue down that path, it’s going to take more than anger.
While experiencing Level 2 energy is perfectly normal, if we stay there for too long, it can have long-term negative effects in the form of broken relationships, difficulty getting along with others or even holding a job. Conflict will follow you wherever you go.
Understanding Level 2 energy is important so that you can recognize, not only when you are experiencing this energy, but what brings it up for you and what you can do about it.
Some questions to get you thinking:
- What bring out your Level 2 energy? What situations, circumstances, people, etc?
- When you experience Level 2 energy:
- What is the main challenge?
- What’s one thing you can do to help move out of it?
- How can you reframe the situation to help yourself move past it?
Often, to break out of Level 2 energy and the conflict that surrounds it, we need to start to take responsibility for our own part in things and/or try to see things from a different perspective. That, my friends, is moving into Level 3 territory, which will be the topic of my next post!
READY TO EXPLORE HOW THESE ENERGY LEVELS SHOW UP IN YOUR LIFE?
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The ELI Assessment can be purchased by itself or as part of a coaching package.
As a certified ELI Master Practitioner, I will help to guide you in understanding your unique energy profile and give you first steps to create your new reality.
The assessment only takes about 20 minutes to complete. Once the results are in, I will guide you through a 1:1 Energy Leadership Index debrief session.
Through this personalized session, you’ll discover the percentage of each of the 7 energy levels that you typically experience under stress and also under “normal” conditions.
You’ll gain insights into where (and how) you’re investing your energy and discover a clear path to your goals—and likely, a higher A.R.L. From the assessment and debrief, you’ll be able to make a plan and adjust your priorities in support of your work and life goals.
The Energy Leadership™ Index (ELI) assessment is the proprietary, research-backed assessment tool that takes something abstract, like the way a person views the world, and turns it into something tangible—a metric that you can see and feel and even reevaluate in the future. And, it’s only available through a Certified ELI Master Practitioner, like me (Jeff Spitzer)!
Ready to take control? You can do it. I can help. Together we’ll crush it.
Jeff Spitzer
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