Did you know that your body tells a story?

Consider this: How do you think the story you tell changes when one or more of the following are true:

• You are tired and weak

• You have low blood sugar

• You have high blood sugar

• You have a stomach ache

• You have a headache

• You are in pain

• You have insomnia

• You are sedentary

It changes a lot, right? Even a slight decrease in blood sugar changes your emotional, mental and spiritual state. Think about this – have you ever found yourself contemplating a serious life issue such as leaving your husband, quitting your job, or moving when you were really tired? What happens? Most likely your emotional state is compromised – things seem better or much worse than they really are. You may find that you speak in superlatives, see no hope, feel defeated and are too exhausted to make sense. That’s because when your physical state changes, everything becomes colored.

Your emotional, mental and spiritual states need nourishment as much as your physical body, but without the proper rest, nutrition and exercise, they all suffer. Certainly the body was built to last. We are strong from the get go. However, if we want to achieve something utterly extraordinary in our lives – be it social, intellectual, athletic, professional, etc. – we have to invest the body we were given with extraordinary energy.

The truth is that no matter what body you were born with, it is not perfect enough as is to aid you in accomplishing everything you want. You have to make a conscious effort to invest in it. (Looking around – clearly this is not common knowledge.)

Here’s another not so fun fact. When we hit approximately age 25, the body we have been given begins to lose its efficiency in its ability to expend and recover energy. And, if we chose to do absolutely nothing to nurture it, we would lose the ability to produce extraordinary energy by the time we hit 40. Yikes!

On the flip side however, our bodies are incredibly adaptable and WILL change when we invest in it. More rest, better nutrition and exercise – consistently, predictably and enduringly – will dramatically improve not just your physical health and well being but your mental, emotional and spiritual state.

An Energy Investment Program for an Extraordinary Life

• Get the same amount of sleep every night, based on your unique needs. Some people need 10 hours, some need 6. Find out your optimum and then stick to it the best you can. The more you are able to stick to a sleep schedule (new mommies you don’t count:)) the better off your body will respond. As a lifetime insomniac, I can attest to this fact.

• Eat breakfast. Yes, it still is the most important meal of the day. That doesn’t mean you have to eat a big one – just put something in your belly to give you gas. A mix of complex carbohydrates, protein and a little fat is best. An no, a donut is not better than nothing:)

• Eat small meals to keep your energy up throughout the day.

• Drink more water.

• Nourish your skin.

• Have regular sex. Cool, right?

• Exercise EVERY day. Take a walk with your dog, ride to work, run the trails, swim, take a salsa class, practice Yoga – just do something every day. And get your heart pumping. It’s a muscle and if you don’t tax it, it will shrink and it may not perform when you need it most.

The bottom line is where there is a harmony between body, mind and spirit, what you do, your calling or your mission becomes the means to experience a personal potential greater than can be achieved by mind alone. Using the physical body to achieve a more expansive mind has been practiced for thousands of years.

Consider this. In their book The Psychic Side of Sports, Michael Murphy and Rhea White make it clear that when we push against our psychobiological limits, the brain tissues record a remarkable range of mystical pleasures such as extraordinary inner vision, peace, stillness, calm, detachment, freedom, floating, ecstasy, power, control, unity, mystery and awe. These are just a few of the psychic rewards of sport, of using your body and pushing your body to its limits.

Being physical every single day does more than keep your weight in check and make your heart and entire system healthier, it feeds your soul and your mind in a way you cannot do by simply burying yourself in work. With physical work comes more creative problem solving, more innovation, better relationships, clearer visions and so much more.

I have been making a commitment to my body since I was probably 8 years old. I have spent my life playing competitive tennis, running, racing, practicing yoga, etc. and I know for certain that when I spend time in motion I literally open the floodgates for the flow of my creative juices to come out and whether it is a new idea for a physical challenge, a breakthrough in a relationship or a business idea, being able to be in that space on a regular basis is key.

That’s why we spend a lot of time talking about this and getting physical at the Mojo Retreat. It all counts. If you want to find out more, go to www.MojoRetreat.com.