An interesting study, well-known in the behavioral science academic community, is the “hungry judge effect.” This phenomenon reveals a pattern where judges’ verdicts tend to be more lenient after a meal break.

In fact, the single biggest predictor of whether a judge will grant parole is not the law or the specifics of the case but whether the decision is made before or after lunch.

If you asked these judges why they made a particular decision, they would likely give a well-reasoned explanation rooted in philosophy or legal principles. They would never attribute their decisions to something as mundane as their blood sugar levels or whether they were hungry or full.

What’s happening here is that their minds are justifying an internal feeling they’re unaware of. Without recognizing the influence of their own energy levels and physical impulses, they react to these factors with their thoughts and reasoning.

And their decisions and behavior follow suit.

We all like to believe we are rational creatures, acting out of logic and sound reasoning. But that’s not always the case. In fact, there’s an entire industry dedicated to exploiting this very fact.

More often than we realize, our body and energy influence our minds, behaviors, and decisions — even those we consider purely logical. The problem is, that we’re often unaware of these influences.

You might not be a judge deciding someone’s fate, but wouldn’t it be valuable to understand what drives your behavior? Wouldn’t it be empowering to take control and change your actions when needed?

That’s why it’s essential to become aware of your internal energy and feelings. Ignoring them doesn’t make them disappear; it only leaves you more vulnerable to their effects. Whether you like it or not, these forces are influencing you.

This is where energy awareness and control become crucial. It’s the foundation of what we study and develop in Advanced Energy Science.