Life is not a marathon, and it shouldn’t be looked at as one.
Life is better viewed as a series of short sprints with periods of rest in between. Think about the way most professional athletes train. They expend a huge amount of energy for a season, and then they have the off-season to rest and recover. They repeat that cycle over and over for as long as they play their game. If they tried to forge ahead without the rest period, they wouldn’t have very long careers.
These high-level athletes know and apply a principle that most people never think much about. We like to call it the stress-and-release cycle. Our bodies, minds, and emotions all work best when we stretch (or stress) them for a period of time and then release the pressure. When we push ourselves for a while and then allow ourselves to take a break, we have the chance to recover. That recovery period is when growth happens.
[bctt tweet=”Life is better viewed as a series of short sprints with periods of rest in between.” username=”nelsonsearcy”]Our bodies’ systems go to work integrating everything we experienced and learned during the push period, making us more prepared for the next go-around. But when we treat life like a marathon, we never get the opportunity to recharge. Instead, we slowly become run down because we aren’t operating within the structure of how we function best.
[bctt tweet=”But when we treat life like a marathon, we never get the opportunity to recharge.” username=”nelsonsearcy”]God is the one behind this concept.
He put it into practice when he created the world. He worked diligently for six days and then rested for a day. We are designed to do the same—to work, then rest; to sprint, then recover. When we approach life this way, we are more resilient, have more clarity, and have an easier time controlling our energy in a positive way.
– Nelson Searcy and Jennifer Dykes Henson
The above excerpt is from p. 192-195 of The New You: A Guide to Better Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Wellness.
With your copy of The New You, you will come away with specific strategies on how to lose weight, get more sleep, lower stress, nurture better relationships, connect with God and much more! Anyone who wants to trade in the frustration of average living and less-than health for the hallmarks of the new life God promises will find The New You an effective personal guide for the journey.
Your partner in ministry,
Nelson
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