Bonjour Son,
Here we are at the start of yet another amazing day to start an amazing week!
We were previously discussing that regular exercise is about much more than staying in great physical condition. As we stated, staying in great physical condition is not the only objective of regularly working out.
So what would be another benefit of working out regularly? I cannot tell you what others may think, but I can tell you what I have personally experienced.
When you exercise regularly, you have replaced the bad habit of not doing anything to be physically healthy with the good habit of working out to be physically healthy. Replacing a bad habit with a good one is always a step in the right direction.
Developing a good habit takes discipline. Merriam-Webster defines discipline as, “orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior or self-control”.
Exercising regularly requires discipline. Interestingly enough, courage and discipline are very similar. Merriam-Webster defines courage as “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty”. We can view courage and discipline as similar because each can require / compel us to take action and do the right thing regardless of how we feel about it.
Over the years people have told me that I’m a natural athlete or that I am very disciplined or that I enjoy working out regularly. I am not a natural athlete, nor have I ever been, and I don’t consider myself an extremely disciplined person. In fact, there have been times in the past when I have sat on the edge of my bed in the morning before my regular 75-mile Saturday bike ride and simply didn’t feel up to it…..especially on those Saturdays when it was already pouring down rain!
Of course, dreading an upcoming activity does not prepare you to excel in that activity.
Sometimes dread may be an indicator of our lack or preparation. For instance, someone who parties until 4 AM is going to have a tough time doing well running a marathon at 5 AM. This person may dread the upcoming marathon because they already understand that they are not prepared to excel.
Regular exercise develops you physically and mentally. You develop discipline which develops a good habit which, in turn, develops more discipline. The discipline that you develop gives you confidence and that confidence and discipline naturally carry over into other areas of your life. Discipline is like a muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it gets.
It is amazing what we can do if we simply take a leap of faith and step outside our comfort zone. Many will find, as I have, that some of the most wonderful accomplishments / moments in your life are the result of thinking outside the box…taking a leap of faith…stepping outside your comfort zone.
Well, that’s all for now!
Have an amazing day and know that you are in my thoughts and prayers!
Love,
Dad