Mindset Matters - The Body

Remember those excellent days we talked about yesterday? Isn't it funny how typically, great days are the days where we feel good about our bodies? Maybe it's something you ate, maybe it's a workout you did, maybe you just feel good about the way you look because you put on a "fire fit" as my brother would say. But regardless, something is working splendidly.

That's because, just like we talked about yesterday, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and should be cared for as such. 2 Timothy 1:14 tells us to, "guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us", so we know that with our bodies being gifts from God we are supposed to take care of it.

What most people don't realise is the affect that taking care of your body can have on your mindset. Living a "healthy lifestyle" isn't something that God calls us to just to do it for our vanity, it's something He calls us to because as our loving father He wants us to be safe, happy, and healthy. So much so, that it's medically proven that there is a mind-body connection in our responses to things. Your mental state affects your physical health, this is why people who are depressed will often gain weight.

As previously mentioned, the summer of my sophomore year was a particularly rough time for me because I had allowed the Devil to make my mind his playground, but just like all emotional things we deal with, there was a physical side to this.

I realised towards the end of that summer that I was experiencing something known as a "cortisol build up". Cortisol is the stress hormone that exists in your body, just like dopamine and endorphins are the happy chemicals that are in us. Many people in the health world will talk about ways to increase your endorphins and dopamine which can be done through eating certain foods, working out, hugging somebody, and doing things that make us happy, but no one talks about the effects of the opposite chemical. When your body gets stressed it releases the chemical cortisol, and if too much gets released at once without being properly addressed and worked out of your system, then you will get a build up, and build ups produce symptoms similar to depression: emotional, lethargic, etc. Sound familiar?

You see, just as important as it was for my spirit to be in the right state to listen to the Lord, my body needed to be in alignment as well, because without our flesh, weak as it may be, we are unable to function properly and in turn share the gospel. God hadn't put me in a place of isolation like I thought he had, God had placed me a position to heal and recover because my body wasn't in the right place to serve Him.

So how can we change this? I believe that there is a right and perfect plan of health, unique to every individual out there, just like our relationship with God is personal and unique. So no, I don't think that there is a "one size fits all" way to get to a healthier life style, lose weight, or lower stress. I do, however, know of some quick tips to help lower stress going into the busyness that is the end of the school year:

1. Sleep Tight - sleep deprivation causes your cortisol levels to rise, lowers your body's ability to fight infection, and disrupts hormonal patterns. To optimise sleep at night try avoiding caffeine before bed, exercising, and limiting the amount of screen time you have before bed. These will all help both your body and mind to rest better.

2. Get on the Grind - this one might seem obvious, but you would be surprised how quickly people will let this go during busy seasons. It's important to realise that cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands, so there is a cortisol increase after working out, especially after intense workouts, but exercise allows your cortisol levels to decrease with more ease at night. Try low intensity, habitual exercising to stimulate your body and mind without spiking your cortisol levels too much.

3. Relax, Meditate, and be Mindful - while all pretty hippy words, they hold truth. Your alone time with the Lord is calming mediation, whether you realise it or not. Having a prayer time that forces your body to be still and relax helps lower cortisol levels (prayer is medically proven to lower stress levels and anxiety!). And being aware of the thoughts that you're allowing into your daily life can greatly shape the way you're viewing yourself and others. Ask yourself, are you viewing this situation through God's eyes, or through the world's eyes?

4. Live, Laugh, Love - okay, so now I'm just having fun, but it's true! Doing something you consider fun, or so much as laughing can decrease your cortisol levels and set your mind right. And spending time with people or pets you care about takes your mind off of stressful situations (keeping partners around you reduces stress).

5. Trash in Trash Out- what you eat matters because constantly taking in processed sugary foods triggers cortisol release and can stress your body out (certain natural sugars like dark chocolate, green tea, and fruit can lower cortisol levels as well). And dehydration will raise your cortisol as well. If you want an extra kick, you can take certain supplements like fish oil, reducing stress.

When thinking about it, doing something that is improper for your body will stress it out, while doing things that will benefit you will calm it down, lowering cortisol levels.

I am no health expert, and can only speak from personal experience with changing my lifestyle and health choices, but I do know this: your body matters because it influences your mindset, your mindset matters because it influences your spirit, your spirit matters because that is your connection to God. That is where you find your passions, your purpose, and learn to be your best self, and no amount of quick fixes or self-help books can change that.

I hope you've enjoyed this series!

-Emma

"Be fearless in pursuit of what sets your soul on fire."