Create Inner-Peace and Ditch the Stress With Exercise

I know I've written about the physical, physiological, and health benefits of exercise, however, I want to uncover another meaning behind what fitness can do.

How many of us out there are in touch with our dark sides?
The "less than ideal" personalities behind who we present ourselves to be?
Let's face it, whether we have a business to build, a group to fit into or simply just
want to be liked, most, if not all of us wear a mask of some sort in effort to hide whatever may be "unlikeable" about ourselves. I personally believe it's nothing to be ashamed of because it's what we've been taught throughout our lives. The detriment to this paradigm reminds me of volcanoes. Let me explain and I'll use myself as an example.

Without getting too personal, I can openly admit to being bitchy, moody, temperamental and opinionated at times. Of course, I don't exactly love knowing these traits exist within myself, but since they do, I may as well be honest. The thing is, even though I'm not enamored with many aspects of my being, I have learned to live with them. Can anyone else relate? Does anyone ever feel the need to hide how they really feel about something to present themselves as someone more politically correct? And more importantly, what does fitness have to do with any of this?

An interesting philosophy I have learned is how our less desirable versions of ourselves can lie dormant in our personalities and eventually creep up and show their ugly heads at some of the most inconvenient moments. Like a volcano, these feelings can erupt if left unknown and unattended to and the chaos this can create is often very destructive. While I've done some deep digging into my own psyche to try to blend the best and worst of who I am into one human being, I have to credit exercise for the enormous role it has played in my quest for inner-peace.

Exercise is the time a person takes for themselves. The truth of who they are can come out. The anger, frustration and animosity a person can feel toward anything and anyone has the ability to come to the surface at any time. Working out acts as the vehicle for healing.

For example, when I'm upset, my fitness routine gives me a healthy outlet. Whether I'm doing kicks, band punches or just maxing out some muscle group, my anger is at the surface. I'm thinking about what's bothering me, cursing at it and vowing to make myself stronger in spite of it. It's my way of "flipping the bird" to whatever is pushing my buttons at the time. With the extra oxygen being fed to my brain, I often tend to find solutions to the problems. And, even if I don't, the release of the pressure (lava) through exercise is an outlet. The worst thing that can happen (as long as I exercise safely, which I always do) is I feel better momentarily. Enough to allow some time to avoid making the situation worse while I mull through strategies to deal with the issue. My wise mother once told me...

"Learn to act, not react".

Exercise has the power to
allow for strategic action instead of negative reaction. This is a form of wisdom. With the pressure alleviated, some form of calmness is usually found and inner-peace is where our higher selves reside.

We can't control everything that happens. Spouses, kids, relatives, employers or traffic and the like typically have their own agendas, however, exercise can help control our perception about reality and this plays a huge role in our reactions.Exercise releases the "feel good" endorphins, allows us to vent our anger, recognize and deal with some inner-truths and, most importantly, look absolutely AWESOME in the face of it all. I've said it before and
I'll say it again, problems tend to have a sweeter flavor when we feel good about ourselves.

On a lighter note, if for any reason you really cannot control your flapping gums in the presence of anger, being fit could at least help you run away much faster.

I encourage you to learn to use exercise as a means of developing a more refined RESPONSE to life's challenges as opposed to reacting.
I thank author Debbie Ford, my dumbbells and JC Predator Bands for teaching me that I'll never be perfect, but at least I can present the most honest version of who I really am.

This helps bring me peace.