Self-doubt, Stuttering and Fear of Failure are Close Friends of Mine
My insecurities often clouded my self-perception resulting in impenetrable walls of anxiety. My brain is consumed at times replaying my gaffes and failures while pondering “what if”. What if I did more research, asked more questions, sought out more people, worked harder, didn’t stutter and on and on…. Too much what if, turns into an evil activity. Then, a fortunate decision in college led to a potion for confidence.
About midway through college, I started lifting weights. I don’t recall why I decided to start lifting, but once I lifted regularly, I began to experience how focus and consistency can add up to tangible results.
Then a friend, who happened to share my major, joined me at the gym. We didn’t really have a workout plan, so we simply replicated what we saw others doing. Not the best approach, but it was a start.
Over time, my tall, wiry frame began to fill in. The physical benefits of weight lifting became very apparent as my strength increased and my body grew. Unbeknownst to me, though, was the supercharging benefit to my mental health that was also taking place due to my regular and demanding exercise.
Stress Relief Through Exercise
At the time, I wasn’t thinking about all of the benefits I was getting from working out.
Thousands of workouts later, however, and more years than I care to admit, working out is still one of the most important things I do during the week. In fact, there was a time when the confluence of stresses in my life was crippling my ability to function at work.
We had 3 kids under the age of 7, my wife and I were into our second year of a four-year house remodel, and the pressure to deliver on sales at work couldn’t have been higher. At the time, I didn’t know that my inability to simply catch my breath was due to the anxiety of all these pressures weighing me down.
Working out became my brief escape from the anxiety. It was the place I knew I could relax and not have to struggle to breathe. (Look for an upcoming article about our four-year remodel adventure.)
It took a while for me to connect the dots and recognize that when I was focused on working out, my mind wasn’t wondering and worrying—but as soon as I was done, the inability to catch my breath came rushing back. Today, that connection to anxiety couldn’t be clearer.
Take the Exercise Challenge
I can promise that regular exercise will provide you with more benefits than any drug in your doctor’s arsenal. Taking control of your health will have a tremendous benefit for your professional career too.
Why not give it a go? Find some exercise that works for you. Starting seems to be the hardest part of doing something different, so here’s a proven way not only to start but also to stick with it.
● Mark your calendar with the day and time when you’ll exercise
● Note the location where you’ll exercise
● Write down your specific exercise plan (weights, yoga, running etc.)
Science is on your side if you follow this formula. And once you discover all the benefits of exercise first hand, you’ll wonder what on earth took you so long.
