After weeks of wondering what might become of familiar school routines, my kids were excited to learn the summer workout program, led by the BISD coaching staff, would happen (with COVID-19 appropriate safety modifications in place). Although relatively active at home, they understand how quickly a body can get out of shape. It’s normal to feel some discomfort when growth is happening, and that’s a good thing. It reminds us that, if we don’t fuel and exercise it properly (which includes exercising regularly), a body can become weak and prone to illness. Some bodies (due to genetics, accidents, disease or age), are more susceptible to illness and injury than average, and special care must be taken to maintain balance and strength, if that’s you. This is true with regard to the metaphysical body as well. Some of us are more susceptible to sadness, fear or anger. For reasons that may be related to genetics, accidents, disease or aging, some of us are prone to illness or injury by way of these negative emotions. Special care can be taken to help maintain emotional balance and strength. There is a way to train for strength and health of the metaphysical body, just as there is training for the physical body. When beginning any training program, the first step is to evaluate your current condition; see yourself as you are, without harsh judgement. You can assess your condition with the intention to grow from where you are, not to find fault. The feelings of muscle soreness, for instance, can be enjoyed as growth happening now, instead of becoming a reason to emotionally belittle yourself for being weak. Feelings of sorrow, anger or fear can be appreciated as markers for something that needs attention and can be changed. Sometimes the situations or circumstances you associate with negative emotions can be changed. More often than not, it will take a change in perspective to truly change the way you feel. There will always be wrongs in the world and we can justify becoming or remaining sad, mad or afraid. However, when we consider the good our sorrow, anger or fear accomplishes (or the bad it accomplishes), we may come to see that using negative emotions as fuel for ongoing negative behavior only breeds more negativity. The question must be: Is this the direction I want to grow? There is a difference between growing pains and self-destructive pains in both the physical and metaphysical body. How you feel after a few weeks of working out and how you feel when you look into your own heart during the process indicate your development. Step one: assess yourself honestly with acceptance of where you are now. Be well.

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