How your emotional and mental resilience affects how you workout

As an able bodied person with a physical yet also somewhat invisible disability. It's hard for others to understand what goes through our mind before we attempt to do or commit to something. This is things like thinking and strategising around our environment. (Is that jump too high, I think the gravel on this path is too uneven for my balance ect.) but with that, comes a chance to problem solve, think innovatively and  think of other routes... pretty much turning  the can't into can. 

The past few months have tested how we deal and manage uncertain situations, we are forced to find the positives with the negatives, and sometimes we can't help but dwell on the negatives even when there are positives to outweigh. There are days when the negative will get under our skin. Why is that? and how why does that affect the way i exercise or workout? 

Personally, i think negativity is a red flag alert for us that points out "flaws" and insecurities at times. When we get acknowledged and congratulated all is well and good in our world. However, when we fail or do something wrong or when things don't go the way we pictured or planned, for the moment, we feel down, disappointed, annoyed. *insert more negative words here* 

In turn,  i believe that whatever we feel and are thinking can affect the way we make our next move, it could either make us workout in an angry mindset because we're replaying that disappointing moments in our head over and over and before we know it we're losing concentration and the end of your workout is done and your left feeling even more disappointed.

A lot of us have busy lifestyles  and at times it can be stressful. Some of us have our guard up, anticipating the next negative alert, waiting on the next  terrible red flag thing. Or i think for some people those feelings become apparent and heightened if you're in a situation when you've had a couple  of unexpected events happen.. Or in the most slim chance, when we're here now  on edge because of a global pandemic and we've got added stress and anxiety so we're just like... So...now what ?

I am in my feelings A LOT, I THINK A LOT! but i also hate being stuck in the negative, so after i'm all drained thinking about "the negative" if it's possible (which in this case it is) i start to question what i'm thinking and try to think of how to be more positive. I've mentioned that exercising has been a form of release, like therapy because 8/10 times it does "fix everything" , but there have also been a times where i've been upset during a workout.

But there are some "tricks" that help train my brain to be more positive. I put things into a different perspective, and i SHIFT my thinking. This  helps  build on my emotional resilience and awareness when i'm in a slump. 

 Maybe try these strategies too  to help you move through life with ease feeling a little bit more lighter when you're in a slump.

1) In the words of Queen Bey "Tell em Boy (perfection) Bye!" 
I know that during this time, we're all handling the pandemic differently. Not everyone is trying to "Glow up" and that's fine, I think everyone's just doing their best to live so it's important, to let go of "perfection" and instead tell yourself a job well done because you're still trying your best to keep active... Skipped a workout today? didn't workout all week? this last month? Thats OK! tomorrow is a new day.  Remember your sense of self and everything you've done to get you here. Also remember, nobody is perfect (including you) Human beings aren't flawless. 

2) Just be patient and kind to yourself
There are so many times when i've got a workout scheduled, but i roll out of bed "not bothered" i notice this behaviour, but this pandemic taught me that the world is slowing down right now, so i can be a little more patient and kind to myself. If i'm unmotivated, i do things which i know will help me put me in the mood like, watch other workout videos, meditate, listen to good music, change into my active wear, do chores, watch a motivational video!  3-4 hours later "I'm ready to workout" or "i'm ready for that walk" Lets go! Your mind and your body knows when you need to actually rest, so it's important to listen to that too. 

3) press pause for a bit and be patient (yes patience is always key - especially to yourself)... 
On that note, Don't be too hard on yourself, go easy! There could be some weeks when you're on a roll working out 5/6ish times a week where there's some weeks you only work out 3 times that week. Maybe your body is telling you to rest/ Take a break. It's also good to take a break If you feel that negativity coming around. For example, if you're stuck completing a task, someone said something you you took personally, you're struggling to finish a circuit take  five deep breaths, go for a short walk, listen to  your favourite good tune  or lie down a a bit to focus on something else. What helps is i tell myself something along the lines of, "What i'm feeling now is temporary, clear your head for a sec before you come back and try again, think of something positive."When that doesn't work, i message a friend and tell them about my feelings.. and then a few minutes later my mood shifts to calmness because i've cleared out my negative feelings out of my system. This helps me think carefully and come back with a calmer mindset with clarity rather than react out of frustration. None-the-less i'm continuing where i've left off. You know "You don't have to go fast, you just have to go." If it's about me not being able to do an exercise then i do my research, come back try again and say "what can i do to modify this?" 

Disclaimer: I'm not an expert or have a degree in psychology, but i go though it emotionally sometimes and shifting perspective always helps where it is possible.. so all of this is just based on personal experiences.