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Since we live in an imperfect world we’re always going to have curve balls thrown at us. after all, no one is perfect and the perfect life certainly doesn’t exist – so our ability to handle emotional stress and trauma is what is really going to make a big difference in our lives.
As of late I’ve been dealing with some emotional stuff. Work has been stressful (partially my own doing for overloading my schedule on a near daily basis) and I ran into a road block in the romantic relationship department. Needless to say I’ve been frazzled and emotional and although I know eveything is going to be fine I still have to deal with the feelings that are coming up for me.
I know that in my life there are two things that always make me feel better: the ocean and physical activity. Both of which I’ve hit up in the last week or so. Unfortunately i can’t go to the ocean as much as I would like, but exercise is always an option.
Your body holds a lot of emotional stress (you yogis may recall that hips and shoulders always come up when it comes to holding on to baggae) it needs to move so you can start releasing those pent up emotions. Some would even argue that exercise is a form of meditation – it helps you release blocks, recharge and even gives you clarity when you really need it. As of late exercise is the only thing that calms my nerves and helps me release emotional tension. So much, in fact, that I started doing mixed martial arts again after a few years of hiatus (bet you all didn’t know I used to do that). After a long day at work and relationship issues theres nothing like punching or kicking a bag. Couple that with my yoga routine and ive got the perfect combination to work both the inside and the outside of my body.
And if the release of all the negative crap in your body isnt enough to convince you of exercise’s healing powers how about the fact that being fit and healthy generally makes life better? You get more energy, you deal with stress in a healthy way, and you release endorphins.
Like Elle Woods so famously said in Legally Blonde…
Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands.
I think that exercise is one of those things most people forget before graduation. Afterwards it can be hard to pick it back up. I’m definitely really glad that I did. Has been making all aspects of my life better, and I look good too (if I do say so myself).
Matthew Hanrahan recently posted..Why You Need To Follow Your Passions Now
Haha that’s great! It’s probably the first thing people put on the back burner after college. Especially once they get that full-time job! I’m a firm believer that the earlier you start cultivating healthy habits the more likely they are to stick.
Hi Amanda,
Great advice! I agree exercise is one of the best things you can do to reduce stress and increase happiness. I was reading the book Happiness Advantage and the author cites a study that found exercise was just as effective as medication for treating depression. You are also more likely to eat healthier if you exercise.
It’s so true! I remember when I first started doing yoga regularly that all of the sudden I started paying attention to what I was eating. It was completely unconscious too. Who wrote the Happiness Advantage?