Let’s talk about the word genki.

Genki is a term and phrase in Japanese that means energetic or healthy. It’s used as a common greeting in Japanese and it describes one who is doing well and full of vitality and life. To me, genki is like the new happy. Genki is about having the energy and the capacity to do stuff, to feel good, and to be engaged.

Let’s look a bit deeper at the Etymology of genki. It’s comprised of two separate kanji characters: Gen and Ki. Gen stands for source or origin. Ki stands for energy or life force. Ki comes from Chi which in traditional Chinese medicine philosophy, stands for the flow of energy or life force in your body. So gen is like the source and the foundation and ki is like the life force that flows from it.

Genki is like the fountain of your wellbeing because it is about creating a state of harmony and balance. This state then allows you to function and be engaged. Imagine a room that hasn’t been aired out in days if not weeks or months. Think of that trapped, stuffed, andfilthy air .

Excessive energy can cause exhaustion, while a deficient energy supply can cause a breakdown. So too much ki and too little ki may both cause problems. 

Genki is about more than being happy and healthy. A genki person is one who is fully engaged, with an energetic and lively outlook on life, whose inner battery is balanced and charged. 

So that’s my interpretation of the meaning of genki. Are you feeling genki? If not, that’s ok. What can you do to feel more genki and become your most energetic and heroic self?