In the fast-paced modern world we live and work, it’s easy to overlook the fundamental importance of good health; physical, mental and spiritual.
We often take it for granted, assuming that it will always be there, quietly supporting us as we navigate our daily lives. It is only when faced with its absence that we truly understand its significance.
As I sit here at the halfway point of 2023, I can easily see the importance health and general well-being plays in every aspect of our life. Reflecting now, if I were to write a book about my last six months, it would be a tale of how I had previously underestimated the true value of living a balanced healthy lifestyle.
The Ignored Foundation
In the pursuit of personal and professional success, health is frequently relegated to the backseat. We pour our energy into various tasks and projects, focusing on our business and career aspirations, financial stability, and personal relationships, often neglecting our own well-being.
I have made this mistake in the last six months. I convinced myself that I could push my body and mind beyond their limits, fuelled by caffeine, ambition, and a misplaced belief that it’s only for a short period.. But as the days unfolded, I came to realise that my overall well-being was not an expendable commodity; it was the very foundation upon which everything else rested.
The Wake-Up Call
The view from Walla Crag
Life has a way of reminding us of our vulnerabilities when we least expect it.
For me it was a wake-up call as we climbed Walla Crag close to Keswick. This isn’t a tough climb (I thought) but it was. Really tough. Where had my fitness gone? Why was this so hard? I knew I had put on some weight and I was tired from long hours but I was invincible right? That base fitness and health was still there, wasn’t it?
The answer no…
I reflected over the next week and realised that the positive steps I’d taken during 2020/2021 to create a better work/ life balance had gone.
I read that the pandemic gave us an opportunity to walk through a portal and we chose to either walk through lightly or with the baggage of our past. I’d walked through lightly but was now reaching back to grasp at old baggage.
I have always gone to this picture when thinking of a portal.
The tasks that once seemed so important became overshadowed by the pressing need to reclaim my well-being. It was during this period of reflection that I recognised the oversight. I had neglected the very thing that allowed me to find balance and embrace life’s opportunities.
Rediscovering Balance
With a newfound enthusiasm and a renewed perspective, I am now starting a new journey to regain balance. This isn’t just about physical well-being but also about nurturing my mental and spiritual mind.
I now see the power of mindfulness, nutrition, exercise, and rest, and how they can all play a role in restoring the balance I had lost.
The Ripple Effect
I hope that as I start to find balance and maybe throw back through the portal some baggage I will see the benefits ripple through all that I do.
Professional tasks that had previously been slowed by fatigue and burnout should flourish. Relationships that had suffered under the weight of stress and neglect should begin to thrive once again. And my overall sense of well-being should improve as I find a vitality I had forgotten.
Final thoughts
It’s amazing how we can overlook something as fundamental as good health. But our journey is often one of self-discovery, and my realisation was a testament to that. If I were to write a book about my experiences, it would be a reminder to embrace the importance of good health as the foundation upon which all everything else is built.
Let us not repeat the mistakes of the past, but instead, embark on a journey where self-care and well-being take centre stage, enabling us to create lives of fulfilment and purpose