What does Health Really Mean?
With all the diagnostic details available to us from our local MD’s the easiest answer is counting, usually in parts per million, a variety of substances found in our bloodstreams compared to the “norm”. Or measuring the volume of blood pumped when our heart is pumping and when its not and any number of tests designed to establish how well our machinery is functioning.
So you spend hours, weeks, months and years exercising and taking care of your body only to leave your yearly doctors appointment hearing the words, “Congratulations, you’ve passed.”
Not very fulfilling is it? We need to remember that what we are is more than just a physical machine. It is not easy in our day and age to slow down our thinking enough to truly appreciate how amazing we are!
Here is a question for you…What is your motivation in having good health? To live longer? So, lets say you do live longer - what will you do with all the years you have between this moment and the moment of your death? Looking at the big picture sometimes helps to remember where you are and what is really important.
True health of body, mind and soul positively shines from the person it inhabits. You have seen it before; somebody glows with an aura that is unmistakable and irresistible and it’s not just because they have a fabulous body (although it helps).
To answer what health is you must first start with defining what we are - a combination of physical, mental and emotional elements. When these elements work in harmony health flows.
While I know you are exercising your body and I don’t even have to ask if you are exercising your mind, in this information age there is no way to avoid using your mind.
So the question then becomes are you exercising your emotional essence? Not an easy thing to do, especially if you are a man.
Exercising your emotional essence is not as hard as you may think. What it really requires is simply taking the time to feel. Taking five minutes a day to breathe deeply into your belly and focus your attention upon what in that moment you are feeling is a good start. Continual breathing helps to pump the flow of emotions.
Emotions are a powerful tool to help you get where you want to go. It is the flow of emotions that inspires artists and feats of greatness that each of us long to experience.
Do you value depth of character? Are you interested in learning more about who you are? Are you interested in channeling the power of emotion into the things that you value? The truth of who you are lies partly in your emotions. Learning how to navigate your internal landscape is an important part of health and success.
Emotions are fluid. They are designed to flow. Repression of emotions requires constant muscle contraction. Constant muscle contraction eventually leads to chronic tightness, aches and pains. Continued repression causes mental stiffness and ultimately dis-ease.
Life is constantly testing us in our ability to adapt to ever-changing circumstance. Is it better to be the oak in the hurricane or the reed in the wind?
Take the time to check in with your deeper self. In the end we are all human. We populate a planet that has been here for millions of years. We have deep emotional roots that evolution has provided to us to enjoy our lives.
It is easy to think that strength is about big muscles and the protection it provides but true strength is presence of character and a dedication to personal integrity.
Fitness of the soul is what we are really after. Everything else is just a surface cosmetic that will not last forever. Learn to be at ease within goes a long way to proving health of body and mind.
Sheldon Ginsberg has a degree in Exercise Science, is certified the NSCA and is a 12th level Reiki Master. He has worked with a large variety of individuals and has developed his own health and wellness philosophy called the FitPath. To learn more please visit, www.thefitpath.net.
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