Day 1, Week 1 - Starting Off

Today is 'Day One'. Often times I find beginnings a bit overwhelming, especially when set before a lengthy task. As the saying goes, all journeys begin with a single step. Here is my first step forward on this journey.

Today began early. 2 AM is my wake-up time as I do shift-work. My start time is 4 AM, which may seem terrible to some. There are great benefits that come along starting the day so early. Traffic is amazing for starters. My hour long commute would be half an hour longer if I commuted later in the day. Not to mention that my early arrival means a departure time at the end of my shift that puts me ahead of rush-hour traffic. The commute itself provides me time to listen to a podcast or sit in silent contemplation. I draw as many positives from the situation as I can with the full understanding that this is likely not something many people would willingly commit to. I draw strength from that consideration as well.

Speaking of strength, that is really the main theme of this challenge. Over the years I've come to appreciate the relationship between mind, body, and soul. Like a three-legged stool, we need all three of these to maintain stability. It stands to reason that it is in our better interests to strengthen each of these, but how does one go about that?

Body seems the easiest to consider, though perhaps the most difficult to undertake. Everyone has their own challenges when it comes to matters of the body. I am very fortunate to be in a state of general good health and I am not faced with some of the massive obstacles which some are faced with in this area. I respect those who strive to maintain a strong body despite being held back by circumstances beyond their control. I've come to learn that willpower and discipline are major forces in this arena. I don't always want to go for a run or do push-ups, but I know that I feel a lot better in the long run when I exercise regularly. I've been on both sides of the fence and I can tell you that the better you feel physically, the easier life becomes in many ways. Aside from being able to open tight jars for family members or catching that bus there is a peace that comes from being in a good state of physical health. A healthy body also means a healthy mind, and our brain is the physical carrier of the mind. 

Speaking of the mind, how does one maintain a healthy mind anyway? There are plenty of experts (and non-experts) that have shared their ideas on this topic. Much like the body, exercise does benefit the mind, though how does one exercise the mind? Sudoku? It stands to reason that using the mind is better than not using it, much like unused muscles succumb to atrophy. There are plenty of mental exercises aimed to increase our ability to analyze situations, recall information, and problem solve. There is also the burden of emotional considerations that can lead to a myriad of mental issues such as depression or anxiety. How does one exercise to prevent these? I've come to learn that developing effective coping mechanisms serve as the needed exercise to strengthen this aspect of the mind.

The soul is a tricky thing... I approach the soul as an abstract concept with a mutable definition. I'm a big fan of science, yet science has yet to encapsulate the concept of the soul into an object which can be empirically measured. Many simply dismiss the soul as something that does not exist. Many aspects that are attributed to the mind can also be attributed to the soul, and vice versa, so perhaps this model would be easier were it simply reduced to mind and body. My reasoning for approaching the soul as a separate objects is very much due to the metaphysical aspect of the soul. I feel that the soul is the course of willful energy, and that it is tied intimately with both the mind and body. I welcome anyone to challenge this notion as the discourse may help me further understand and stress-test my own preconceived notions. Until such a time that I am convinced otherwise I will maintain the three-object model going forward.

As it stands, I have committed myself to the following challenges aimed to strengthen these areas, as follows:

1. Complete two online training courses (mind)

2. Train to perform a human flagpole (body)

3. Commit to a daily stoic routine (soul)

I will expand on these goals in later journal entries. In the interests of achieving these goals I must maintain a good diet, an organized lifestyle, and healthy living habits. I have a pretty good feeling that this entire thing may work out for my betterment in the end... but only time will tell. Let's do this!