Our Physical Wellbeing

This month I want us to take into consideration our bodies. Some of us forget how important they are until they start having problems, and some of us are looking after our cars and pets better than we are looking after our own bodies!

When human beings are fit and healthy they feel a sense of mastery over their lives

It is common knowledge now that the body and the mind are inextricably linked. I spend a great deal of my time assisting people in making changes to the way they think, and it has always been of interest to me how much the state of our body influences the way our mind works and consequently the way we feel. By this I don’t mean the relationship between our body image and our level of self-esteem, I am talking about the amount of energy we have and our ability to get things done.

The people who work with me want to feel good about themselves, they want to lead happy and successful lives, both personally and professionally. This means getting motivated to be the best they can be, to perform at the highest possible level whether they are at work or at play. Being physically fit and healthy is part of being the best we can be. It gives us the drive, determination and energy to act on our decisions and fulfil our personal and professional potential. What I am really talking about is taking good care of ourselves all of the time.

How can we do this? 1. Exercise

Exercising regularly strengthens our bodies and our minds providing us with more physical, emotional and mental resilience. Recent studies show that during periods of high stress, those who reported exercising less frequently had 37% more physical symptoms than their counterparts who exercised more frequently. Exercise uses up the adrenaline that is created by daily stress and stressful situations, ensuring that we do not use this energy in a negative or destructive way, in our relationships with others for example. It also releases ‘endorphins’, the feel-good hormones, into our bodies. These improve our mood, motivation and even our tolerance to pain.

2. Sleep

Lack of sleep damages our effectiveness in all areas of our lives and can and does have an effect on our bodies. Feeling tired and asking our bodies to function as normal puts a strain on them. Letting our bodies down in this way has other consequences too. As our energy declines, we become less pro-active in our lives and reduce our control over what is happening, instead of making choices we just let things happen. This often results in a spiral downward. If you are getting just one hour too little per night your concentration is seriously impaired. Getting enough sleep helps us to maintain our physical and emotional balance and prevents us from over-reacting to situations through a distortion of what is really happening. If you are used to getting too little sleep you will be amazed by the difference you will experience in your levels of energy if you get a few really good nights sleep. People who sleep better, perform better, wake naturally and face life head on with energy and enthusiasm.

3. A healthy diet

You only have to look at the advertisements for food supplements to get a really good idea about how eating the right food can help you in your life. Nutrition affects our emotions, our ability to concentrate and learn, to prevent illness, to play sports, to grow and to develop as people and create a successful future for ourselves. Beginning to eat healthier foods such as fruit and vegetables, whole grains, pulses, lean meats and low-fat dairy produce will make a dramatic difference to your overall health. Reduce or remove anything with artificial chemicals, in the form of additives, preservatives, flavors and anything else. All of these put strain on the body, in particular the liver, which is so crucial for the elimination of toxins from the body. Also, watch your intake of caffeine and alcohol. When we follow a healthy diet our bodies reward us with more energy and vitality, the very first building block of successful people.

If you are fit and healthy, your body is really helping get where you want to go. It is a really great idea to keep it that way! So, this week ask yourself what treat will you give your body this week?

Be well and strong!

hillybarker@gmail.com