Health is a vital part of life. People who take care of themselves tend to be more psychologically healthy than those that do not. Your outer body, everything from the way you speak, to body language, to even how you dress reflects an inner reality. It reflects your psychological health. There is a reason when you see the average protest the people there are some of the unhealthiest looking people you can see because they have unhealthy minds. Sure there are those that focus on their health to obsessive amounts to fill some hole but that’s not what I’m talking about here.
A man who has a flabby body, suffers from the “dad bod”, or is skinny and weak like a vegen hipster is reflecting their mind. I’m not saying the having muscles is the end all be all of masculinity, far from it. I’m saying that having a body that is prepared for what the world may throw at it is a must. Can you jog a mile? Do twenty pushups? Do three pullups? If you can’t do these you need to start exercising yesterday. These are base levels for humans, doing these should be as easy as getting a cup of coffee in the morning.
Healthy Mind, Healthy Body
When it comes down to it looking and feeling good, having health means having discipline. Discipline to go out and hit the gym even when you don’t want to. To run those miles even though you hate cardio. To say no to processed carbs and breads and stick to meats, fats, and greens. It all comes down to one thing and that thing is discipline. With it you can achieve your health and fitness goals without you cannot. It’s as simple as that and discipline does not come from the outside world but rather comes from within.
Discipline stems from your mind and mindset. It like a muscle can be worked and will grow will every test and trial. Whenever you see someone who is fat or skinny and weak it is because they do not have the discipline to do otherwise. Like when you see someone who dresses like a bum and is always cutting corners. They do not have the discipline to dress properly and do a job all the way through. And hence they will never go far in life. Your body is a reflection of your mind, your outer a reflection of your inner.
Discipline Your Mind
To get the most out of life and reach your goals (health or otherwise) you must have discipline. You must be in control of your mind instead of your mind being in control of you. There are many great ways to instill discipline in your mind. One great way is cold showering, which also has great health benefits. Everyday instead of taking your usual warm relaxing shower you take a cold shower. This doesn’t have to be done all at once and may even work better with increments.
So for starts you would spend thirty seconds in the ice cold water each day. A week later increase to forty five seconds. A week after that a minute. And then at the end of the month only use cold water. You must force yourself to do this. It will not be easy at first and that’s the point. Like going to the gym at first you may have to drag yourself there but eventually it becomes a habit. Forging good habits takes time and discipline.
There are many other options besides cold showers. If you don’t go to the gym, start now. Even if the gym is your home or nature around you. Do some form of daily PT. Start eating better. Drop out the two biggest sources of fat and other ills in the average Westerner’s diet. Do a series of pushups, pullups, and squats everyday if you must. But get exercise in and don’t let your body become unmanly. Don’t let it degrade into either fatness or weakness. You don’t have to be Arnold but you have to be able to use your body should you need too.
Summary
A unhealthy body reflects an unhealthy mind. The source of health is discipline. With discipline you can instill the right habits to create the body and health that you want. What shape you are in says something about you, not everything obviously but something. As a man I’m not saying to spend your time on getting six packs abs or some aesthetic benchmark (only women should focus completely on aesthetics). I’m saying to have a body that can enable you to live the life that you want as well as last for a long time.
Your health is important. If your health fails nothing else is going to matter. You’d be wise to always make sure to stay in shape. Establish a daily routine as well as some diet guidelines. Build up discipline through cold showers or another method. Do these things and you’ll be ahead of the majority of the population which being honest is saying much. But it is a start and if you are not at this level yet you must get there. So understand that the outside reflects whats on the inside and that you health is irreplaceable so take care of it.
If you have any questions you would like to see answered in a future post send them to me at charlessledge001 (at) gmail (dot) com. If you found value in this post then I would encourage you to share this site with someone who may need it as well as check out my books here. I appreciate it. You can follow me on Twitter here.
-Charles Sledge
