Last week at the post office I ran into someone who expressed to me how much she enjoyed reading my columns. She went on to explain some of the difficulties she and her family had been going through in her personal life, and after listening to her I realized just how fortunate I am. While I was sorry for what she and her family were enduring, I was impressed with her strength—her inner strength. I think it is easy to overlook the importance of inner strength in our day-to-day activities, but that is what keeps us going through hard times and is what sets survivors apart from those that give up. She is definitely a survivor. It struck me as especially symbolic on this particular day because just the week before I, myself, had gone through something that was extremely difficult in my life and I definitely wasn’t feeling very strong at this particular moment. But after speaking with this remarkable woman it really put things in perspective for me.
Unlike most of my previous writings, I’d like to discuss the importance of non-physical strength and it’s role —a strong mind to support a strong body. It’s difficult to be balanced if you have one and not the other. A person’s mental state is of the utmost importance in controlling the physical body. After all, if you are not motivated or driven to do a particular job or project, then it is (as you probably well know) that much harder to undertake. This is never more evident than with exercise. Most of the people I speak to have the best of intentions when it comes to starting an exercise program, but it is another thing all together to not only start one, but to stick with one consistently.
I have been very blessed throughout my life, and this also stands true with exercise. By that I mean that I guess I started incorporating exercise into my life so many years ago, that now it is a habit. I no longer have to dedicate much thought to the process—I just do it (as the Nike ad says). And I am thankful for that. But for many people, it is simply not that easy, and I see it every day. These people struggle at getting motivated to simply do the exercise, after that, they have to find a way to stay motivated. It’s often easier said than done. That is why it is important to prepare yourself mentally, just as it is important to do so physically.
Inner strength, I believe, is something that needs to be developed, and once it is developed, it needs to be honed. Like muscular strength, it will diminish and weaken if it grows stagnant. Some basic ways to keep your mind sharp is to exercise it—read, listen to music, write, meditate, envision where you want to be and what you want to achieve. Some mild forms of discipline include simple breathing techniques and yoga meditations. When a strong, sharp, disciplined mind is combined with a body of the same caliber, you are better prepared to face the difficulties of life. I, for one, have plenty of room for improvement and I constantly strive to be the best person I can be—the strongest both physically and mentally. Like the woman at the post office, a strong mind allows you to endure more than you thought possible.
Melissa Allen, BS, CPT, CES is a certified personal trainer, corrective exercise specialist and Medifast health coach, is the owner of the Optimum Condition Corrective Exercise & Performance Center, located in El Cajon, in the East County of San Diego. We specialize in customized fitness training and corrective exercise for both recreational athletes and post-rehab clients, as well as guaranteed weight loss programs or your money back. You can schedule a free consultation to help you get started. Please visit her website at OptimumCondition.org.
