Reposted by Nick Deacon Fitness.
2020 has been a hell of a year, hasn’t it?
After a week of destructive riots contrasted with peaceful protests, the conversation around racial oppression and class disparity in the United States has never been louder. It’s history in the making, and the seeds of change have been planted. Tension and uncertainty are palpable. Emotions are running hot. You might be feeling all the feels at this time, and that’s okay.
But today I want to let you know that being healthy isn’t just about how you exercise. Your feelings and emotions affect your metabolism too. Let’s take a look at something many people across the world have felt this week – anger.
There are different forms of anger.
For example…
Anger against another, the feeling you’re not being heard or respected.
Anger against the universe, the feeling that you’re not getting what you deserve.
When you’re angry, your blood is said to BOIL! Anger initiates your fight or flight stress response.
Your heart rate increases. Blood vessels constrict, and blood pressure increases. Cortisol and adrenaline send glucose into circulation to give muscles quick access.
With glucose and blood pressure high, you’re basically diabetic (temporarily).
This can lead to fat gain (specifically unhealthy visceral fat), muscle breakdown, blood vessel damage, and many other factors that initiate chronic diseases like heart disease and metabolic syndrome.
And this all happens EVERY time you get angry. So let’s forget the obvious healthy habits like exercise and nutrition for a moment. If EMOTIONS profoundly affect your metabolism and biochemistry… But you’ve never WORKED on your emotions…
How can you expect to have a strong, lean, and healthy body that supports you into old age?? You can’t. These things are all tightly connected. While anger has its purpose, you don’t want it to get out of control.
So how do you work on them? It starts with emotional reflection. Keeping a bedtime journal gives you a powerful container for reflection. I’ve kept gratitude journals and other variations for years as part of my nightly routine. Over time I tried different approaches. My habit evolved. But today, I’ll share with you the gratitude journal.
1. Gratitude Journal
Get a dedicated gratitude journal.
Open the page.
Write the date.
Write 3 things you’re grateful for.
THAT’S IT.
It’s simple but POWERFUL.
I learned from Tony Robbins that you can’t be angry and grateful at the same time. They cancel each other out. (Humility and forgiveness are also powerful here.). Sheryl Crow sang, “It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got.”
Gratitudes are gifts from the universe.
There is nothing you need to do to earn them, they are completely free. But if you lose sight of them, you begin to take all the wonderful things in your life for granted. Gratitude is a funny thing… The more you find you’re grateful for, the wealthier you feel. The true price of gratitude is as simple as recognizing them. Gratitudes prevent you from ever taking something for granted. Gratitudes improve your relationships because you appreciate what comes from them. Gratitudes show the universe what you value.
Start by practicing putting out the flames of anger with a gratitude journal.
Come and experience our Infrared Sauna and get to work on your Journal today! Want to hear more from Nick, you can find him on Instagram at @nickdeaconfitness or
here on the web!
