Does anyone else feel awkward raising energy?

That awkwardness doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. Those activities can feel exposed, especially when you’re not used to them. Try a smaller version: sway instead of dance, hum instead of sing, or picture the energy without trying to make the image vivid. You can build up only if it starts feeling natural.

You don’t have to perform energy raising in a dramatic way. A few steady breaths, a repeated phrase, or a quiet moment of focus may suit you better. If an exercise makes you feel more distracted than present, change the exercise rather than treating that reaction as a failure.

Sometimes it helps to separate the practice from the pressure to believe or feel something particular. Treat the visualization as a way to direct your attention, not a test you have to pass. You can also practice somewhere private, or keep your eyes open and use a simple physical cue, like standing with your feet planted.