Top 10 things that lift my spirit - Shareefa Energy

Muay Thai: I do muay thai and boxing. Muay thai and boxing clear my mind of any debris that weighs heavy and allow my energy to express itself, while learning an art form that improves my physical and mental health. Martial arts encourage me to be present, demanding focus and enhancing my creativity.

Fresh coconut water: There is nothing that brings me back to life and lifts my spirit than drinking from a fresh coconut when my energy’s been low or my vibe is upset. Anything that comes straight from the earth in its natural form is full of nutrients, to revitalise you. I love papaya too.

Scents: Cinnamon and spice-scented aromas and fragrances are my obsession. Incense sticks and essential oils with their carefully-selected fragrance filling the room provides a form of aromatherapy. Nostalgia arises in my chest when catching a waft of a scent that takes me back to vivid memories of 1994.

Travelling alone: I enjoy travelling with others, but I always require time for myself to check inwards and experience the world alone too. As extroverted as I am on stage, I appreciate solitude and enjoy my own company in new places, with time to capture my thoughts without interruptions.

Dancing: I love to dance. After the genocide in Rwanda, people wanted to heal holistically and dance their trauma away rather than talking about their troubles. This resonates with me. I love bachata and dancing to afrobeats and soca. It’s important to allow your spirit to express itself.

Nature: Her beauty blows my mind when life becomes overwhelming. I love to take a notebook or a novel to the park or woods, read and write and appreciate being alive. I love camping, hiking and road trips. Being off-grid energises me, from camping in Cornwall to the Amazon rainforest.

Sunshine: The sun never fails to lift my spirit. The way she feels on my skin and inspires me to jump out of bed in the morning. Being able to move to a hot country away from grey England and continue with poetry and facilitating workshops is a dream.

Seeing people grow: I love facilitating workshops with children, young people and adults. Seeing people grow and learn to express themselves in a healthy manner and be surprised when writing great poetry warms my spirit. Opening others to acknowledge and be impressed by their own way with words is so fulfilling.

Comedy: I’m so inspired by comedians writing for versatile mediums and audiences. There’s a skill in being able to make people laugh. As serious as my content can be, I like to interrupt my performance with humour to lighten the load. Laughing at the end of a long day is important to me.

Writing and performing: Last but not least, writing and performing poetry allow me to release whatever sits on my chest or I need to express and make sense of. The stage supports me to not have to tone down or police my expression and preserve it in its raw form.

Shareefa Energy is an award-winning spoken word poet, writer and workshop facilitator. Visit Twitter & Instagram: @ShareefaEnergy and www.shareefaenergy.com