A Look At Emotional Health

I wanted to take the time today to piggy back on Paul's previous posts about nutrition and exercise.  They were all the rage when everyone was obsessing over New Year's Resolutions last month and they are important.  

I would argue that another important area, that is often neglected, is our emotional and mental health. We have touched on lifestyle factors and how they contribute greatly to our overall well-being, but we haven't really touched on our emotional and mental health. This can be the missing link to a healthier version of ourselves. 

Over the past year, I have undergone some major emotional healing and every step I have taken, to heal myself emotionally, has led me to feeling healthier and stronger.  I continue trying to figure out why I still have nagging health problems when I eat healthy, exercise, and find time to pray and express gratitude.  Through my personal journey, I have recently discovered that I was harboring deep anger and pain that was leaving me broken and sick. As I dive head first in to addressing my anger and pain, I am noticing my body and physical health are responding in very positive ways. 

It all started to come together this year on the 30th anniversary of my brother, Brian's, death.  I think about him every day, but I never realized how his death changed my life forever and it has taken me way too long to realize I was stuck in an emotional web of anger and pain. 

When you lose a loved one to suicide, there is a ripple effect that changes the course of your life.  I did not realize how angry I was with him for leaving my family in such complete shambles.  In some cases, like mine, you are left with no answers.... just a lingering question that haunts you.  Losing him so suddenly and abruptly led me to wanting to control everything else in my life, hence the control issues I mentioned in previous posts. 

I am so grateful that recently, several people and circumstances have surfaced to help me work on healing this area of my life.  As I let go of all my anger and forgave him, I started to regain my health.  Nagging health issues have started resolving themselves. I have found courage I didn't know I had, and I reached out to my brothers, so we could all heal together, after all these years.  

This experience has helped me become a better trainer as I remind myself daily to step back and realize that everyone has their own story.  We all have mental and emotional baggage that keep us from becoming who we are meant to be. Instead of getting angry or frustrated with someone for not reaching their goals or falling off the health wagon repeatedly, I meet them with compassion and empathy.  

We are all here to support each other and sometimes putting the effort in to healing deep wounds, can be the missing link to health problems.  If you are eating well, exercising regularly, and doing all that you can to manage stress, but you still feel like you are sick, stuck, or just can't quite break through a plateau, you may have to dig deeper and see what lies beneath the surface.   

It is not always pleasant at first, but I can tell you first hand, it is worth it, and your health could depend on it.  I can finally take the broken pieces of my heart (and health) and start to put it back together with the help of my family and amazing New Dawn Fitness community.  

I have recently become obsessed with lighthouses and have them all over my house.  I think I may finally know why now....."
"The scars you share become lighthouses for other people who are headed to the same rocks you hit." - Unknown