Reading for Your Soul

Exercising the mind is imperative for success in life. Most people think that training means lifting weights, going to gym classes, or even going for a swim. Yes, these are great ways to get fit and to improve your body but how is your mind going to reap the benefits.

By neglecting your mind, you are inevitably reducing your physical gains. Not only this, but overall well being is suffering. Our minds are our greatest asset. A lazy mind means no advancement in your life and also can lead to degenerative dis-eases. We need to ensure that our minds have time to de-stress and are not always peppered with tasks that need completing.

Gratitude and appreciation are the key to a happy life. Looking in the mirror and always critcising yourself is the worst thing you can do. Not only does it affect your self-confidence, but it also makes your soul cry. This is a recipe for disaster.

Of course most of us want to be in great shape, but first we have to appreciate and acknowledge the shape we are currently in. Be happy with yourself in the now, and the rest will take care of itself. I have gone through a roller coaster of emotions, when it comes to my physique.

I have been my own worst enemy, and it took me 40 years to realise that. I would work so hard on my body, only to keep getting injured but now I have learned that the only way to increase the physical gains is to appreciate myself now and to be mentally strong. Tools such as meditation go a long way to helping us do this.

I first got into meditation after I got divorced. That's right, I'm not ashamed of my past. My past has helped me become who I am today! At first meditation was such a difficult tool to utilise. I had so much going on in my mind. My first experience was in Glastonbury. This has got to be one of the most spiritual places I have been too. The energy is out of this world, almost Godly!

I went on a retreat for 3 days, and let me tell you, it was one of the most soul fulfilling experiences of my life. It changed me for the better. From this day forward I was on a great path. However, I was no way the finished article. In fact, in some ways, it was slightly more confusing because I was conflicted. On one hand I had the serenity inside me, and on the other there was anger and fear. This all happened 10 years ago. During those 10 years I continued to get injured but it was because of the fear I was withholding.

I can now unequivocally say that all the experiences I have had, have led me to realise the potential of my body and how to train without fear. Training with fear takes away your confidence, which makes you unsure of yourself. You are always second guessing yourself and that leads to lack of focus when performing exercise. And we all know what the by-product of lack of focus is, yes, injury!

The tools that helped me overcome this fear and uncertainty were spiritual books by the likes of Wayne Dyer, Abraham Hicks, Gabrielle Bernstein and others. They explain everything so simply, that it's hard not to read on. Books take our minds away from mediums such as television and video games. Without knowing, when watching television we get sucked into societies negative messages. Some of us watch the news 3 times per day, so you tell me what the inevitable result is!

The media are there to tell you the worst of the worst. They will very rarely tell you a feel good story that will melt your heart. This is one of the main reasons that I got into reading books. You just feel a sense of inner peace when you pick a book up and delve into the descriptive words. There is nothing quite like, sitting back in a quiet place and reading a good book. Exercising the mind is just as important as exercising the body!