How many times have you felt frustrated or even angry after a conversation with your boss or significant other? Maybe you’ve sat on the sidelines watching the ref make unfair calls, or listened to your child talk about a teacher or coach in a less than favorable way. All of these experiences—whether they happen directly to you or not—take a toll on your energy.

In fact, everything you do pulls from your bank of Qi. Master Lu often asks, “How will you spend your Qi?” and “Did you spend your Qi wisely?” At the end of each day, look back on every encounter you’ve had and recognize your body’s response to it. Did you end up with a headache or ringing in your ears? Did your eye start twitching or your face turn beet red? Once you step away from a situation, it’s easier to see it for what it is, and acknowledge the effect it has not only on your emotions, but on your physical body.

So, the next time you are faced with an angry co-worker or an argumentative partner, take a breath and repeat these words: “_____ does not deserve my Qi.”

Your Qi is a precious resource. Use it wisely.