Zig Ziegler said “You don’t do something because you are motivated; you become motivated because you do something.” With this quote in mind, I happened to come across a list of how stress affects your behavior. Most were pretty common things such as: over/undereating, tobacco and alcohol use, and exercising less. Here’s how Zig’s principle relates in this case. You don’t exercise because you are stressed, but you are less stressed when you exercise. It makes me ask the question, “What things can help prevent stress (eating healthy, staying away from the poisons, and exercising) and how come, if they truly are beneficial, do we tend to do the exact opposite when more stress piles on?”
I believe it is because of a shift of what we are focused on. In other words, we simply change our priorities. We don’t want to go to the gym or spend time cooking because our priority has become relaxing after that long day. The comfy couch with the $5.00 hot and ready from the pizza place can be a welcomed change after a long day. However, what are the long term affects? Since you didn’t work out, your pituitary gland didn’t produce the endorphins that counter act stress. You didn’t give the body the nutrients it requires so it’s having problems creating other stress counteracting hormones. Given these two, the body doesn’t have what it needs to get rid of the day’s stress, so now you are having problems sleeping. And without proper rest, you guessed it, you now have even more stress.
I’m not saying a night on the couch with a pizza and root beer is completely out of the question. I enjoy this luxury about once a month. However, I would like to encourage you to remember the opening quote. In his book, I’ll See You at the Top, Ziegler reminds us how sometimes we would show up for practice just because Coach threatened to kick us off the team if we missed another. We would have the attitude of I’ll just slack off when he’s not looking. Then next thing we know we are in it full swing and enjoying it! You didn’t start off motivated; you became motivated because you started. In the same way you don’t eat healthy because you are stressed, but you will be less stressed when you eat healthy, when you exercise, and when you stay away from tobacco and alcohol.
As always I want to thank you for taking the time to read and invite you to join in on the conversation. What are the things you do to help prevent stress? Do you want to do those things when you are tired and worn out? Tell us about your perseverance and how you keep you focus. We would love to hear it. Please feel free to sign up for our newsletter, and have a blessed day. To God be the Glory!