To date, I haven’t gotten very far in the book but the few
chapters I have read (and even the title alone) got me thinking especially
given the major life change I’m about to make.
I learned a long time ago, probably in college but who remembers that
far back, that moving is one of the most stressful things in life. I couldn’t agree more. This move along with changing careers has
stressed me out more than I would care to admit. I loathe packing and talking to the vet to
determine if my cat is well enough to make the trip and storing my stuff until
I have a permanent place to live and on and on and on. STRESS!
But I digress. The
point I’m trying to make is that life’s events can stress us out which can make
us sick (or not healthy). Research has
repeatedly shown (and it’s the whole premise of this book) that your attitude
and mindset has a direct impact on your wellness and overall health. Think about it for a minute. When you are tired and run down, you are more
likely to get sick. When you have
something very stressful going on in your life, you are more likely to get
sick. When someone has a severe illness,
you hear people say “It’s the power of positive thinking”. That’s not just some cliché people say because
they don’t know what else to say.
Science has shown the connection exists.
And sleep?? WOW! What
a huge impact sleep has on every
component of the mind-body connection.
If I don’t sleep well or enough, I generally am grumpy or
irritable. If I’m irritable, things are
going to stress me out quicker. If I’m
stressed out quicker, my immune system is compromised. And if that lack of sleep and stress continue
for long periods of time?? You guessed
it. I end up sick. That’s why during this move, I have really
tried to focus on the positive and what my new job and new residence and new
social circle will be like and it makes the stress lessen.
I’m even convinced that all those “home remedies” we learn
at a young age really work because we THINK they will work. Orange juice?
Vicks vapor rub? We think they
are helping us recovery and that, alone, helps us recover. The mind-body connection is limitless.
What, then, does this have to do with fitness? Isn’t it obvious? If you are healthy and thinking positively,
your body is going to be able to perform at a higher level for longer periods
of time. That means you can run longer
and/or faster, add another weight to the machine or do more pushups. Besides that, though, and more importantly,
it’s not just about fitness. It’s about
your health. I’ve maintained from the
beginning that being healthy isn’t just what you do in the gym or what you eat. It’s the combination of it all.
So next time you are faced with what feels like a Herculean
task or life throws you a major curve ball, do yourself a favor and just
breathe. Take a minute to yourself and
figure out the best way to approach the situation. Better yet, go for a walk, swim, bike ride,
run or whatever activity you enjoy.
Chances are, you will feel better, you may have identified a solution
and you’ve burned a few calories in the process.
Your body (and mind) will thank you.
BE BOLD! BE YOU!
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