A New Year and A New Commitment To Exercise!

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Here we are again, at that point in the year, after having eaten too much over the holidays that we re-commit to engaging in a healthy workout regime. Well the reality is we should do that, and stick with it for a host of reasons. This is another example of how all five paths can come together. Hi, I’m Steve Beaman and welcome to the Physical Path!

I think it’s fair to say that most of us know we should exercise. Most Americans carry around 10 to 15 lbs of extra weight and that’s frequently reason enough. But you and I both know there is more to this, and the reasons to work-out and exercise covers each of the five paths.

Starting with the physical path, exercise does so many good things for you. It helps you sleep better which has its own long list of benefits, it gives you more energy, it reduces weight thereby reducing stress on your heart, it reduces stress in and of itself which reduces many bad things. So your journey on your physical path is undoubtedly enhanced by a good exercise program!

Moving to the emotional path, exercise just makes you feel good about yourself. You gain a feeling of accomplishment, you gain a feeling of success, and yes you do generate endorphins chemically in your system when you workout and that can give you a high like a coffee, or even a Red Bull. So your emotional journey is enhanced in many ways – to me the most important is stress reduction.

On the intellectual path, it’s proven that when you’re sleeping better, your ability to retain information improves. So, as a healthy workout regime will improve your sleep, this will serve to help improve your cognitive skills. Not a bad payoff! Also, the energy boost you get from working out can help you improve your focus. Who needs supplements to do this, just workout and you’ll see your own focus factor improve!

The Spiritual Path benefits from all of the above as you find your mind clearer to focus on the priorities in life, and the purpose in your life. As I’ve written before, research has shown that we’re hard-wired for faith, so let a clear mind and healthy body work with you to grow closer to God!

And finally, the financial path benefits from this as well. First, a healthy life reduces medical expenditures, second a healthy life improves income because you have more energy to work, and third a healthy life makes you more productive in all facets.

So to enhance your total journey, why not truly commit yourself to a year of physical exercise, not some fad diet that will fade, but a well thought-out plan that you can, and will execute.