Physical vs. Mental Fitness

Physical fitness involves the performance of the heart and lungs and the muscles of the body. And, since what we do with our bodies also affects what we can do with our minds, fitness influences to some degree qualities such as mental alertness and emotional stability.

It’s important to remember that physical fitness, as well as mental fitness, are individual qualities that vary from person to person. Both are influenced by age, sex, heredity, personal habits, exercise and eating practices. You can’t do anything about the first three factors, but you can about the last three and that's where physical and mental fitness come into play.

We all know exercising regularly is a must to maintain good health. Our culture puts a lot of attention on physical fitness and how we look.  To become truly physically fit, requires determination, dedication, hard work, and education.  So, can you be physically fit and not be mentally fit? 

To solve problems, to understand complex ideas, and to think clearly and quickly, are skills that make it easier for us to make informed decisions, understand current events, choose good friends, manage our money well, make wise long-term decisions, and appreciate music, art and literature.

It takes as much mental fitness as it does physical to push your body past your comfort zone. You may be confident your body can overcome many physical obstacles, but if you're not mentally fit, how will your end results compare? Going into a workout/event without proper education (hydration, sleep, rest, nutrition) as well as physical training can make or break your experiences and determine whether being physically fit is worth your trouble.

In my opinion, Americans in general have decided it's too tough to be mentally fit, therefore as a whole, we are physically unfit, resulting in a society of obesity.

To be mentally and physically fit is not easy. The key to developing such skills is to enjoy learning, and to have the ability and motivation to teach and push ourselves.  We need both mental and physical fitness to be successful in life.

To think well, learn well, and perform well, you must exercise your body and mind daily.

The easy choice is to float through life without purpose. By challenging our minds and bodies on a regular basis, the decision to make our way through life with purpose and impact is most likely an involuntary choice.  I believe this is the key to living longer and happier lives.