Living in Alignment When Energy Is Rooted in Truth, Vitality Emerges
- Oct 14
- 2 min read
By Serena Teddy PA-C, RD, IFMCP
I’ve spent 20 years in nutrition and the last 10 years practicing functional medicine and I happen to love what I do. Both from caring for patients and my own experimentation, I’ve seen and tried just about everything to improve my energy — diet, movement, sleep, meditation and supplementation. All of it helped in different ways, but underneath there was always this low-grade fatigue I couldn’t shake.
The change that truly shifted things had nothing to do with food, exercise, or supplements. It was becoming more conscious of how I was spending my time and energy.
As a woman, a perfectionist, and a lifelong people pleaser, I had a pattern of saying yes when I didn’t mean it. Every yes became an obligation I didn’t truly want, and I’d end up resenting myself. I kept telling myself I was being of service to people I loved, but the truth is I was running myself into the ground. At one point, I was leaning on more and more supplements just to get through the day. I remember looking at all the bottles lined up and thinking: What am I doing?
That moment forced me to look deeper. Why was it so hard for me to put my own needs first? I realized I didn’t actually know what I wanted or felt that I deserved it. I knew what my body needed — food, rest, movement — but I didn’t know what I, as a person with dreams and desires, truly wanted.
So I went inward. Daily meditation gave me the space to disconnect from the noise of expectations and reconnect with my own voice. It took time but I found my value and over time, the answers became clearer. Then one day, it finally clicked: I realized what I wanted for myself — not what my community, family, or profession expected, but what lit me up inside.
That realization changed everything. When you know what you want, saying yes or no stops being a struggle. My yeses became intentional, my nos became liberating, and with each choice aligned to what truly mattered, my energy began to rise in a way no diet, exercise plan, or supplement stack ever achieved.
Today, I still value nutrition, movement, and rest, but I see them differently. They’re tools that support me so I can do what I love, not the foundation of my energy. What sustains me most is honoring my own truth — making conscious choices with my time and energy. That shift has given me more vitality, freedom, and joy than any external routine ever could.
Connect With Serena
Instagram: @steddyhealth
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