BODY-MIND-SPIRIT

It’s pretty hard to live a limitless lifestyle when you can’t get out of bed. 

Living a life full of vitality requires a connection between mind, body, and spirit. Like a link in a chain when one is broken the others become weak and vulnerable.
How can you create an environment where those three things are aligned more often than they are not?
I recently finished a book titled Body Mind Mastery by Dan Millman. He’s also the guy behind one of the most inspirational books I’ve ever read and even turned it in to a pretty solid film, Way of the Peaceful Warrior. Highly recommended so peep those if you have not already.
I came away with the feeling that we are all athletes. Those that have competed at a high-level know that it takes a tremendous amount of physical, mental, and emotional strength to succeed. While reading I soon realized that it takes a lot of physical, mental, and emotional strength on an everyday basis to excel at life.
The Universe can demand a lot from us at times. Testing our limits and capabilities. In order to excel consistently, mastery in those three areas is essential.


DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

YOU ARE CONSTANTLY IN TRAINING

When I really sit and think about it, it seems pretty clear to me that we are always constantly training or practicing. I used the word mastery earlier but how do you define that?

• I consider Tom Brady a master at quarterbacking.
• Jamie Oliver a master chef
• Robb wolf a master at the Paleo diet
• Charles Poliquin a master with exercise
• Martin Seligman a master of positive psychology
• My mom a master at parenting

But I’m sure that if you asked each of them, they would consider someone else a master. The point is that there are a lot of people out there with some pretty amazing talents and skills. Which means, there is plenty of opportunity to learn from them or others just like them.
I’m all for being “good enough” at one thing or another. “Good enough” will get you a passing grade on a test, a stable job, decent health, and a pretty good life for the most part.

But what if you don’t want good. You want extraordinary?
Well than I think it’s pretty important to recognize that the opportunity to always be improving is there. The key is to build a life around what is important to you and by using your own strengths (again, refer to the strengths finder) to achieve those things. And as Millman says, “Not dedicating your life to the training but instead dedicating your training to your life.”

KEEP YOURSELF ACTIVE

When someone says active you probably most often think about physical activity. But staying active mentally and emotionally is just as important. Participating in activities that not only keep your body alive but your brain and emotions, are instrumental in achieving optimal health and well-being.
Your body, brain, and spirit are evolving. The more you use them the stronger they get. The less you use them and well, the weaker they get. Use them to infrequently and eventually they begin to believe they are not needed anymore and it becomes difficult to call upon them when they are needed.
A little goes a long way here:

• Use the stairs instead of the elevator
• Cook a meal instead of opening a back and heating one up
• Grab a cup of coffee with a friend instead of alone
• Read a book
• Paint
• Take a class on something you are interested in
• Challenge yourself with a 5K or Crossfit class
• Cry during a movie or laugh when you hit your head on the fridge

These things take practice. What are some small steps you can take immediately that will help to strengthen you body, mind, and spirit?

 FREE YOURSELF

Free yourself from complacency by excepting big challenges. It’s very easy to allow ourselves to feel comfortable and safe. It’s what your body, mind, and spirit want. Homeostasis is what it strives for and the three of them will work together to make sure that it happens.
The only way to combat i,t is to take on things that push you. Do those things that scare you most just often enough so that they know you are alive and not playing that game.
Free yourself from fear and failure (which usually can be seen skipping in the park together as they are BFF’s) by being courageous. Courage isn’t about eliminating fear and failure it is about living with them and deciding what to do next if they ever rear their ugly heads.
If your doorbell rings and you open it to those two S.O.B’s remember that it’s all about what you are going to do now.
The best thing to do is to completely enjoy yourself as often as possible. Do more of what you love and less of what you don’t. And yes, it is entirely possible. You have a choice in the matter.
Have fun! Celebrate more often. Not only the big things but the small as well. Often life can feel like a constant battle with ourselves.
Laugh freely, and spend more time with the people in your life that matter most. That’s freedom and that’s freeing yourself.


BE PRESENT AND BE FOCUSED
Whether you’re at the gym, work, or with home with your family. Be there and there only. If you go to the gym to get a workout in, then get a workout in. Lock up the phone or leave it at home. If your excuse is an emergency, then tell folks where you’re going and give them the contact number just in case.
I see it far to often at the gym. Someone hops on the treadmill, starts a run, and then the phone rings. They hop off to answer it and either spend the next ten to fifteen minutes chatting before hopping back up or never getting back on all together.

• If you’re at work be at work.
• If you’re out to dinner with the misses or mister; same rules apply.

Look around at people you admire the most. The ones that are the most productive, have the best health, and maintain the best relationships. Chances are good that those same people are the most focused and present at any given moment.

SETBACKS ARE SLINGSHOTS

A good way to view setbacks is to see them as an opportunity to build momentum. If you’re holding a slingshot and never pull it back you’re not going to get much power behind the shot. Each setback that we experience allows for the opportunity to learn a little bit about what might not have gone right. Take the opportunity to ask yourself some questions.

• What went wrong?
• What behaviors/choices did I make that led to those results?
• What behaviors/choices can I make to improve upon those results?
• What went right?
• What behaviors/choices led to those results?

Asking yourself questions like this after setbacks is like pulling the slingshot back. Your collecting information that will help you improve in the future so that once you release your grip its launch time.

MOTIVATION COMES AND GOES SO MASTER CONSISTENCY

A big question I get is “how do I stay motivated?”

The answer is simple. You can’t. You won’t be motivated all the time and that goes for anything you are doing. Even if your life is full of doing things, your love on an everyday basis motivation will sometimes be lacking.
Personally I’m not always stoked to go get a workout in, write a post on this site, or prepare healthy meals day in and day out.
Don’t focus on being motivation, but instead focus on being consistent.

• Motivation won’t get you results. It’s a feeling.
• Consistency gets results. It’s an action.

You don’t need to be motivated to get a workout in, to eat healthy, or to pursue a passion. You need to be consistent. Day in and day out just take action. Keep momentum going by simply taking action. If you can’t find the time to head to the gym and get in a workout be consistent by getting it in at home instead. Still no time? Do jumping jacks for 5 minutes. Anything to keep the habit rolling.

PRACTICE PATIENCE

Whether you’re trying to build lean muscle, lose fat, or start your own business the results you see will surely fluctuate. You’ll have weeks you feel invincible and everything is just clicking.
Yet there will be other weeks where it seems like you are doing everything you are supposed to be doing, but you’re somehow stuck in quick sand.
Do you have it in you to practice patience? Realize that you might not be progressing at the speed you would like but be confident that you are doing the right things because it is what is most important to you.

JUST SHOW UP

Both your mind and body are moldable. As you begin to show-up day in and day out both your body and mind will adapt to handle greater challenges. When you lift weights and add just a little bit more each week your body responds by coming stronger and building lean muscle.
When you continue to learn, meditate, and experience new things your mind adapts as well.
Focus on taking the necessary steps that promote progress. Constantly challenge yourself and never let your body or mind get stale.
To do this, make it non-negotiable. Choose one area where you feel you need to be challenged and commit to it. Prioritize, schedule it in as an appointment with yourself.
If you are looking to exercise, schedule it in and show-up. 6am every morning schedule that workout. If anything comes up just say sorry… “I have an appointment.”

YOU'LL HAVE A HARD TIME LIVING A LIMITLESS LIFE IF YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF BED

A limitless life can’t be lived if your health is for sh*t. Take care of yourself both physically and mentally. While it’s important to look healthy it’s much more important to actually be healthy. Six pack abs are great but so is a low risk of diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, joint pain, your mood, and energy.
Often when we are training our bodies we are simultaneously training our minds. It takes tremendous commitment and personal strength to commit to eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough rest day in and day out. And that takes some serious mental capabilities.

Are your head, heart, and body all on the same page? Ready to build strength in all aspects of you life? Commit.


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