Strength

We talk a lot about strength, especially being in the fitness industry. Strength training is good for your bones, your metabolism, and overall well being. When one feels weak it leads to loss of confidence, loss of ability, and overall decreased quality of life.

Physical strength on any level is critical to wellness, but what about emotional strength? What about those times your stress level reaches an all time high and you don't know what to do? The kids are fighting, the baby is crying, the house is a wreck, and your husband just left for a two week business trip. Are we strong enough emotionally to process those emotions and feelings or do we automatically snap at the kids, reach for a drink or the closest piece of chocolate cake?

If we train the emotional and spiritual side within us as much as we train the physical body, we will be better prepared to handle the conundrums of life.  Have you ever tried a new form of exercise and hated every minute of it because it was hard and you didn't have a good handle on it?  Take Tabata for example, 20 seconds of high intensity followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated for 8 cycles, then repeat all of that over again for 8 tabatas. INTENSE. The first time I took a full Tabata class, I was five weeks post baby, I truly thought that was my last day on Earth. Thankfully it wasn't and now I teach a weekly Tabata class and handle it just fine. The more we practice something and make it second nature, the more comfortable we become. Case in point. The more we train the emotional being, the easier it will become to handle the challenging times of life and not resort to yelling, drinking, or eating. We must challenge ourselves physically, emotionally and spiritually to be totally well.

So the next time you feel overwhelmed, SIP. Stop, Investigate, Pray.
    * Stop what you are doing. Immediately, just stop in your tracks.
    * Investigate what is going on. Are you stressed, are you tired, are you sad, are you emotionally
       consumed?
    * Pray. Ask God to intervene on your behalf and to provide wisdom for your situation. Pray boldly
       for your circumstances: for your children to stop fighting, for the baby to stop crying, for your
       eyes to be taken off of the dirty house and to be placed upon Him. Ask and believe that it will be
       done for you.

Now actually SIP on water, take a deep breath and carry on.

It will take practice, it will be challenging, but the more you flex your "emotional control muscles", the stronger they will become. Bless you friends.