The Ups & Downs of Life & Fitness: How to Overcome Setbacks and Challenges

“Life Is Difficult”

That’s the very first line in the HIGHLY RECOMMENDED book: The Road Less Traveled, by M. Scott Peck

Now, I won’t spoil the book and the life-changing impact it can have on you, by giving you the next few lines, but I will say that I totally agree with line #1 and the sentences that follow it up…

There’s a very high chance you’ll agree too, that yes, in fact, Life Is Difficult…

I surely agree, because my life has been difficult at times… very dark and very difficult – and out of all the people I’ve met in my life, I might be able to count the ones who’ve had an “easy” life on one hand… maybe.

But in the last few years, I’ve grown into the realization that this “difficult life” is also a miracle and a blessing. And that true perspective changes the game.

In essence, it changes the meaning of “Life Is Difficult” in a way that makes life VERY worth living, despite the inevitable challenges that will arise.

By design, life is meant to be difficult (at times). It is designed to challenge us, to push us, to “awaken” us to the reality that our lives will be what we make of them, and also how we think of them.

This is a common struggle that not only takes most people off the right path – but it’s the element that also often prevents many people from even taking the first step to self-care and accepting complete responsibility for one’s own condition, primarily health condition. So…

Today’s Short Article Is Intended to Help You With This Common Struggle

I share some more of my backstory, and ‘lessons learned’ in hopes of inspiring you and anyone else you know who can use the fuel for motivation…

Recently some fantastic ‘old’ photos surfaced, via my first wife… And in looking at them, I was reminded of the deeply challenging phases of life I had been through, and how far I’ve come, in certain regards.

Here is one of those photos I posted on Instagram over the weekend, which I combined with a relatively recent “progress” photo of me and JoJo, 20 years later…

At 27 I was in a very challenging place personally, but was living one of my dreams; to be a young dad. This was during one of my personal valleys, struggling to find balance… Eventually found it, plus more. In the process managed to set the example for the kids. Here's a shot of where things have gone. The lesson: everything you do is very likely to directly impact those closest to you. What example are you setting? More to come… . . . . #fitnessexpert #mindset #livingthelife #positiveinfluence #selflove #selfimage #selfawareness #doitforyou #doitforyourself #doitforyourkids #fitnesscoach #fitdad #fitdads #positivemindset #chooseyourdestiny #livewithpurpose #dontbelazy #aginginreverse #fitnessblog #fitnesspodcast #fitnessjourney #bodymindandspirit #bodyweightfitness #bodyforlife #noexcusesjustresults #priorities

A post shared by Joey Atlas (@thejoeyatlas) on Aug 4, 2017 at 6:47pm PDT

You might be able to see it in my eyes…

I was in a challenging place, personally. And physically, well – I was far from where I wanted to be at that point in life. And internally – my annual exams were getting worse (blood pressure rising, cholesterol rising, triglycerides rising, and more…)

My body was hurting, literally hurting. Major back aches and pains, neck issues, shoulders, knees…

There was more inner turmoil that I’ll go deeper into in the future. Suffice to say I was battling life hard.

But don’t get me wrong here though, because there was incredible joy with being a new, young father with JoJo being born. In that I had achieved one of my life goals – to be a young dad, so I can have ‘younger years’ and experiences with the kids in the future, just like you see in that inset workout/posing photo.

There were more difficulties along the way, some you may remember from other blog posts over the last 11 years, and some I’ve yet to share.

But, as I moved through my late 20, through my 30’s and now slowly, gratefully, living through my 40’s – I always made sure the inner fire, the deep inner desire to value and honor my health, my wellness, the gift of life I’ve been given – was always brewing no matter what and when tough times were upon me I either kept pushing through with my personal commitment – or I made sure “I came back” after I had let myself go, due to the circumstances and pressures of life that I had brought upon myself…

Below is a recent photo I posted on Instagram. It’s a snap shot of one of the ending band moves for one of my arm training sessions.

I posted the photo above and the photo below, to share with you, to show you – that despite life’s ups and downs – positive personal progress can still be made. While the photos only give you a glimpse of the “physical” – you can bet there has been MUCH mental, emotional and spiritual progress over the last 20 years as well…

Even just looking at my medical profile from the last 3 years of annual physical exams (that video appointment and results reading with Dr Osborne is right here if you wish to see it), is proof that we can heal, strengthen, rebuild and improve (a.k.a. aging in reverse) even AFTER MIDDLE-AGE…

Life-enhancing Fitness doesn't have to be complicated or painful. A combo of proper exercise and eating the way nature intended the body to be fed makes some miraculous things happen. Trust me ? The right approach is the game changer, but everything starts in your mind. Nothing gets better until your thoughts do. . . . . #fitover40 #mindfulmovement #thinker #fitdads #wiseman #beentheredonethat #middleageshred #middleagefitness #getyourgrooveback #healthyhabits #valueyourself #selfimage #selfishlove #becomeyourbest #fitnessmaster #fitbodyandmind #fitforhealth #inspirehealth #noexcusesperiod #notv #fitnessexpert

A post shared by Joey Atlas (@thejoeyatlas) on Aug 3, 2017 at 4:50pm PDT

How is it that I’ve been able to “get better with age”, when most other people go in the opposite direction?

There’s no special reason… Nothing that makes it possible for me and impossible for anybody else.

I simply faced the fact that “Life Is Difficult” and I could either fold, fall victim, and give in to the difficulties.. Or I could accept the difficulties of human life, know they will come and go, and set my priorities based on my true values, that dictate my mindset, my habits and my actions.

Life still presents its difficulties. Life is not always easy. So, just knowing this can be enough to position oneself mentally so that difficulties are not a surprise, and can be more easily worked through.

Additionally, with age comes wisdom, or at least it should if we are open to becoming wiser – and if this is the case, then the difficulties can become less frequent and less painful. That’s a post for another day, but it does offer a truth – one that presents the notion, and reality, that life can be “less difficult” as we learn our way along the great journey.

In closing, at least for now, I can share with you that I’ve handled my ups and downs, no matter how painful or dark, by always coming back to my personal values, my core purpose and my deepest faith in the goodness of life.

The act of “returning to center” has been how I’ve been able to overcome the difficult episodes, to navigate through them (sometimes doing some deep introspection and action taking) – or sometimes, to simply “hold on” until they’ve passed…

Part of my deepest core value set has been a transformation of honoring the body only for the sake of the body (back in the teen years when I first started in this fitness realm) – all the way to honoring the body for the sake of the “whole” self…

Respecting the body as the “vehicle or vessel” that we’ve been gifted with, to carry us through this one life. Always returning to optimum self-care, with consistent self-awareness – has kept me tuned into, and connected to, my ‘self’.

Any thoughts, comments or questions? Please do post below, I’d love to hear from you.

And, as always, please do use the ‘easy buttons’ below to share this with anyone and everyone you wish – who can use the “real world” insights and perspectives shared above.

Thanks for reading,
Joey Atlas