Your Sound Mind Needs a Sound Body
Last month, I shared my experience with the ups and downs of exercise in “Sometimes You Win and Sometimes You Lose.” Today, I want to expand on that theme by emphasizing one of the most valuable assets you possess in your career or business journey: a sound mind housed in a sound body.
How I Started Small
My fitness journey began during my awkward teenage years. My uncle, an enthusiastic bodybuilder with biceps that seemed impossibly large to my adolescent eyes, took me aside one afternoon. With genuine care, he shared several resistance workout techniques I could practice at home without any fancy equipment.
I followed his advice, using filled water bottles as makeshift weights and performing push-ups against the bedroom wall. Gradually, I noticed small improvements, a hint of definition in my arms, a slight increase in stamina when climbing stairs.
However, it was the football disaster I mentioned in last month’s newsletter (read the full story here) that truly transformed my approach to fitness. That humbling experience made me realize resistance training alone would not build the cardiovascular endurance I needed.
My solution was modest but intentional: I began with 15-minute cardio workout videos in my living room, just once per week. This might sound minimal, but it represented a significant shift for someone who had spent years avoiding any meaningful exercise. I gave myself permission to start small, understanding that my body needed time to adapt and my mind needed space to embrace this new habit.
How I Stayed Consistent
The true challenge of fitness has never been starting, it has been persisting through the decades as life constantly shifts around you. Over thirty years have passed since those first awkward home workouts, and throughout that time, my exercise routines have evolved through various life stages, job demands, and family responsibilities.
The secret to this transformation has been twofold. First, I incorporated exercise into my weekly schedule as a non-negotiable appointment, as I discussed two weeks ago. Second, I discovered the power of celebrating incremental wins, not just dramatic transformations.
Some seasons allowed for intensive training; others permitted only maintenance. Rather than becoming discouraged during busier periods, I learned to appreciate whatever movement remained possible. The result of this gentle persistence has been remarkable: today, I complete 30-minute workouts three times weekly without the aches and recovery issues that once plagued me.
When I reflect on my journey from a winded teenager to my current state of sustainable fitness, I see the compounding effect of consistency. Each small decision to move my body, even when motivation waned, contributed to the wellness foundation I now enjoy.
Action Points
As you consider your own journey toward a sound mind and body, I invite you to:
- Start With One Small, Specific Change: Choose a single, modest activity you can add to your routine this week. Perhaps a 10-minute morning walk or five minutes of stretching before bed. Record how you feel afterward to connect the activity with its immediate benefits.
- Create Your Movement Map: Take 15 minutes this weekend to identify the periods in your weekly schedule that could accommodate brief movement sessions. Mark these on your calendar as appointments with yourself, giving them the same priority you would give to important meetings.
Remember, the relationship between physical movement and mental clarity is not a luxury, it is the foundation upon which all other success is built. The investments you make in your body today will pay dividends in your mind’s performance tomorrow.
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