Lessen your weight

I consider myself to be a physically fit person. I am by no means at the top of my game or am I currently at my peak fitness level. That level was many years ago when I was younger and in the military. I know I can lift heavy weights; I can move inanimate objects; I can pass fitness tests for work. Those weights are easy. If I can’t lift one or carry it, I know that I can work up to it with time, training, and rest. But what about a mental weight?

There are some weights I know I can’t carry. A load I can’t and choose not to carry. Why? I choose in these moments to lift these weights up to God. I recently listened to a podcast, and it was said to focus on being fit in mind, body, and spirit (soul). I know this is probably not a foreign concept to some who will read this but to me it has sunk in. It got me thinking about my life and what has been going on lately.

For about the last 6 years, if not longer I have been working out regularly cue the first paragraph. And for over a year or so now I have been going to therapy. It honestly started as a recovery for an event I witnessed at my job, but it slowly progressed to finding out more about myself and working through relationships. One key element that has come up is my anger. My anger/temper has always been a problem of mine. As a young kid I can remember having moments of yelling, tantrums, pouting, etc. This is something I am slowly growing out of at 40 years old. I am truly a work in progress and I’m happy to be one. I have loved exploring myself mentally. Getting to the root of problems by either therapy, books, or conversation with friends or a girlfriend.

My spiritual side of my life has always been there growing up in the church. I believe in God. But it is admittedly one of the things I struggle with. I don’t struggle believing or attending church. It’s the weekly growth and focus that I have struggled with. I do not want to have only Sunday faith. I do not want to just turn to God, celebrate Him, worship Him, or even acknowledge him only on Sundays. So, when I heard on the podcast about how there has to be a balance between them all, I realized the spiritual side was lacking. I also love the idea that none of them have to be more important throughout the day over the other or that it has to go in any specific order. I mean if you wake up in the morning and begin the day with prayer and bible reading, great job, don’t stop there. However, if you wake up and just aren’t feeling it and need a reset then get your mind right with breathing, meditation, or therapy, great job, don’t stop there. Or if you’re itching to go and you’ve got the blood pumping and you just want to pick it up and put it down, great job, don’t stop there.

I just love the idea that to become truly healthy making these three things important can go a long way. I want to add one more thing. Of all these it is truly important to focus on God and pursue him with all your heart. If you are not invested wholeheartedly, and you’ve not given him your heart, then how can we expect him to do things for us. The God I serve is truly amazing!