Moderate Use of Mental Energy
Moderate Use of Mental Energy
Stillness preserves mental energy, which is the foundation for use. Preservation and utilization are complementary—only through accumulation of reserve can one use energy while still preserving it, ensuring continuous vitality. The idea that one can remain sharp and intelligent even at seventy reflects the result of both nurturing and using mental energy consistently. Great physician Sun Simiao, lifelong diligent and mentally agile, wrote the monumental medical text *Qianjin Yaofang* at age 100.
Mental energy must not be neglected nor overused. Overuse depletes essence and qi, harming the body. Thus, moderation is key—work with purpose but not to excess, avoiding both deficiency and surplus, so the mind remains balanced and harmonious, conducive to health.