Tough times don’t last; people who manage to get through them do
When you’re in trying times or caught in a tailspin, do two things first: change your state physically and connect with others. Moving more, not thinking more, is the way to making things better. Reaching out, not retreating, is the path to a happier state.
⚡️ Change the way you think to change the way you act.
The real reasons to commit to a fitness practice is to hone yourself from the inside out and to build a healthy mind and feel braver in the face of challenge. Another reason is to find out what you’re made of and inspire yourself to live bigger than you might otherwise. The fundamental reason you show up to train your body is straightforward: you can use it as a tool to blast past inner obstacles and shut up the voices that tell you, “You can’t do that.” We feel a connection with other people and are grounded in a community when we train our bodies. The reasons why moving daily matters so much are:
- You start an upward spiral: Tim developed a fitter lifestyle; the first side effect was that his cravings for unhealthy food switched to healthy food desires. He began to drink more water and sleep more. When he slept better, he woke up more refreshed and in a better frame of mind. The more he stayed on the path, the more smoothly a positive feedback loop moved through every area of his life.
- Develop grit and forge focus: Grit is a combination of focus and perseverance. Where focus locks you into a task in the first place, perseverance keeps you working on the task through thick and thin, helping you see it through to completion.
- You create confidence through actions: Gaining control of your body makes you feel more in control of your life. We all have a stage or an arena where we want to feel more confident. And even though we can write a hundred notes or try to think a thousand good thoughts about having more self-assurance, the route to it starts in the body.
- You feel freedom, connection, and joy: When you move your body daily, it’s easier to feel connected to your inner self and experience joy in your day to day activities.
- You purge stress and combat anxiety: Anxiety can be the result of many stressors in the environment. Engaging in an activity that clears your mind and allows you to focus your energy on something else can be helpful.