If all goes as planned, this will be the first in a series. I have become convinced that in order to live a fulfilled life and lead others successfully there are five areas of growth, I will call them pillars, which require committed, intentional, and consistent action. I have adopted this idea as a result of reading books written and listening to a podcast by Thom Shea. I admit that my level of commitment to these areas of growth is not as intense as Thom Shea's. The application of the underlying principles, I have come to view, is non-negotiable. Let’s see if you might not also be convinced.
Arguably, living a healthy and fit lifestyle is chief among the five pillars. If you are not caring for your physical well-being you cannot experience the fullness of life available to you. The Holy Bible tells us that our body is a temple. Everyone’s body, fitness level, exercise preferences, and eating habits are uniquely their own. It would be presumptuous of me to try and prescribe how to best take care of your physical body. I will declare that fitness and exercise along with healthy eating habits are crucial to a fulfilled life.
Working out on a regular basis helps release hormones and chemicals in our bodies that elevate our mental state. Part of what comes along is a sense of accomplishment once a workout has been completed. Did you ride your bike on a particularly difficult trek? Are you seeing increased strength as a result of lifting weights? Have you noticed an increase in confidence after learning how to apply a new martial arts technique? Did you see a beautiful sunrise or sunset while out on a walk? Starting and maintaining a workout routine is not about motivation. Some days you may feel motivated others days, maybe not so much. Completing a workout can be even more rewarding when you did it in spite of the fact that you did not feel motivated to begin. In the end, the workout is not about motivation and reward as it is about being disciplined and treating yourself as someone you highly value, treasure, and want to care for.
Physical health is not isolated to working out on a regular basis. A balanced eating and nutrition lifestyle is key. Many of us were taught about a “Food Pyramid” when we were in school. I would like to challenge each of you to look into newer information that is available about diet and supplements. Items that we eat can help or hinder the results of our workout efforts. The best balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats may be different for you than me, and it may contradict what we were taught. Things like eggs, coffee, and beef may not be as bad for us as some would suggest. Do certain supplements make sense and if so, where do you go to ensure their quality? What we eat, when we eat it, and how much we eat can affect mood, energy, and recovery from workouts or even sickness.
I advocate that, if you are not already working out and eating well, start slowly. One step at a time will get you to better physical health quicker than you may realize. It will also help with developing a practice of implementing well-disciplined decisions in your life. You may just find yourself accomplishing more than you thought feasible. An example in my own life (I am over 50 years old)…I have more muscle mass, run further and faster, do more push-ups, and have an overall greater fitness level than I did in high school or college. I am not nor was I a great athlete. This is just an illustration of one person who took one step after the next. Being the healthiest I have been in my life helps me overcome more obstacles, sleep better, and accomplish more mental and physical work than I thought would be possible.
I suggest, that without having good physical health, the next four pillars will fall apart. All five pillars need to be in place, but none of them work to their fullest without the physical daily attention to maintaining this your physical health.