Yesterday after work, I went for a run.
"So what? Many people go for runs all the time. No big deal!" you may be thinking.
This run was different because it was motivated by a scary four-letter word...
FEAR
I don't want this post to come across as judgemental and I want it to be sensitive so I'm leaving it as broad as possible. To say it in a nutshell, these last few weeks I have seen a lot of individuals who don't take care of their health. It's hard to pinpoint it on one thing. For some it's genetics, for others it's environment. For some it comes from their upbringing, and for others their greatest enemy is themselves.
So after coming home, I headed to one of the trails and went for a run even though I was tired from the day before and hungry (although I rarely run after dinner or I inevitably get reflux)...for fear of my health...because it was the only thing I could do that I had control over.
I admit, probably not the best motivation. I would love to say that I went for a run for an amazing surge of endorphins (the good-feeling hormones), because I'm training for a half-marathon, because I know that it will make me stronger, or that I ran to support a cause. But I didn't...and I have a feeling that this will be something that I will need to work through in the future.
God must have known that I needed some fuel to get me back home...he gave me lots of fresh raspberries on the side of the trail to munch on!
When it comes to healthy living, what motivates you? Is fear, in your opinion, a good or bad form of motivation?
I think motivation in any form has its positives. Although hopefully fear wouldn't be the sole motivation for the long haul because I know that would weigh on me after awhile. I certainly have fears over health things. Especially after my mom's MS diagnosis.
ReplyDelete1 Cor 6:19-20 is pretty good motivation. Although its context is sexual purity, I think it's safe to say honouring your temple of the Holy Spirit extends to all aspects of health!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Tina. I agree completely that if fear was my primary motivation long-term it would eventually be too difficult to bear emotionally.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for the encouraging verse Ian. I love how it can be applied to so many day-to-day aspects of our lives to help us strive to honor God!