We take terrible care of ourselves...physically and emotionally. Want to be in touch with your feeling state? Start by creating a connection with your body.
Humans evolved on the run. We were either running toward things we wanted to eat, or running away from things that wanted to eat us.
Today we are 30% as physically active as people were 100 years ago. I grew up in the 70's and 80's in a house that had three television channels. The remote control was me and the television was fifteen feet from the sofa. I'd have to get up and change the channel for my parents when they wanted to watch a new program. I was constantly moving, and it turns out that I still need to be moving today at 52. When was the last time you got up to change a channel on the television? How would you feel if you had to? Americans are more obese, consume more processed foods (because there are more) and we are under slept. Doesn't it make sense to begin by treating your body like a temple rather than an amusement park?
Pick a book on health, fitness and self care...any book. Use it, if not as a road map, as a template for success. My favorite book on this subject is Eat, Move, Sleep by Tom Rath. In it, Rath discusses the benefits of eating clean food, getting regular exercise and sleeping well. Good self care is the foundation for being able to care for others. If your goal is to become a great provider, you must have a healthy body to achieve it. As you care for your body, you will develop a relationship with it. When you exercise, regardless of your age, you will notice that you are sore afterward. When you sleep the right number of hours, you will notice how rested you feel. You will also notice that you may not feel as good when you don't. And when you eat cleanly (fruits, veggies and meat...or no meat) you will notice that your body feels more full for longer, your sweet tooth no longer searches for white sugar treats and you have more energy. Eat processed foods and notice that your body feels bogged down after spikes of blood glucose that make you feel high. These connections, when you begin to notice them, will help you make a connection with your body and your feeling state.
I suggest anyone interested in becoming more in tune with their body pick a person they would like to emulate. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, Laird Hamilton...these are my three guys. Arnold is a guy with a positive attitude that doesn't quit. He does not let the risk of failure stop him from anything. He succeeds when others say he will fail. Jason Statham can do the human flag pole. He doesn't believe in dicking around in the gym, and I like that approach. Get in, work hard, take a shower, get out. Laird Hamilton...he can do anything. He is a 55 year old waterman beast. He works out hard daily, and has expanded my idea of what a man over 50 can do. Now...are any of these people the present men I'd like to be? I don't now. I've never met them. Do I look anything like them? Not really. But I have used each of them (especially Laird) to inspire myself, and I suggest you find people to insure you so you can do the same.
Here are a few things you can do to be more in touch with your feeling state.
1. Mindfulness Meditation. Go to the Resources Page of DonaldCronk.com for a great mindfulness link!
2. Yoga. You'll be more present to your body than you've been since the last time you did yoga.
3. HIIT. High Intensity Interval Training. Ramps your heart rate up and let it drop, only to send it skyward again. Reduced anxiety and depression and lets you know what you are made of.
4. Walking/Running/Jogging/Clogging/Dancing/Lifting. Use your body and when you feel you can, try 1 thorough 3 above.
Notice how your body feels before during and after self care. This is the foundational step to being in touch with your feeling state, and becoming One Present Dude.
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