120 Work-Out Time!

Meaning: “conveying a significance that is not directly expressed . . .”

Last blog I waxed eloquent on what I had to do to be physically fit, Curious Reader, but it is nothing compared to what I have to do—the exercise, the work-out time required—to be-and-stay mentally, emotionally and spiritually fit.

And, there is no scaling back on these “work-outs.”

Seriously, there is so much exercise, so much work and practice involved in the pursuit of mental, emotional and spiritual fitness it effortlessly exceeds the effort required for physical prowess.

Mental “work-outs” can and routinely do demand infinitely more of one than physical “work-outs,” and emotional and spiritual “work-outs” are activities rife with effort, too. (Thankfully, one need not exile one’s self to a monastery, ashram, or top of a pole to develop acumen in these areas. The prayer time and practices required for the daily “work-out” with a bunch of kids and an energetic husband will more than suffice, that is if one continuously and consciously strives to exercise one’s mental, emotional and spiritual faculties all the while.)

To continue, mental fitness requires ongoing reflection, self-examination, value and standard acquisition and maintenance, self-discipline and regular practice. Further, the 7-steps of meaning-seeking belong in the company of many other mental disciplines such as goal formation, concept origination, intellect development and so on.

Emotional fitness requires ongoing Holy Spirit help in moderating and editing one’s highs and lows into what I describe as a moderate sine-cosine wave. Holy Spirit also reveals the comfort of self-control (not “letting it all hang out”), the prosperity of letting peace control one’s life and the productivity of commitment. This is definitely not go-it-on-your-own work.

Spiritual fitness requires right thinking, right believing, right doing and right company (with our Holy Father, Jesus our Holy Brother and Holy Spirit). Any lack in this area will produce soul-sickness every time.

Of course, the practice of all of these things “means” not only “work-outs” but also enormous and enduring rewards—a rich inner life, extraordinary adventures, real skill-sets for active living, personal joy and enjoyment and real appreciation for the personhood of others, for a start.

And the search for meaning is integral to reaping the rewards of a sober, serious, sane and fun-loving (Ha! Surprised you with that one!) life. Life is supposed to be fun (hmmm, I’m feeling the vibes of another significant truth here, Dear Reader). It’s just the effects of the “fall” that have compromised that premise.

Attention to what matters . . . well, it matters, Gentle Reader, whether a “work-out” or not.

But moving on now, let’s expand a bit on positive versus negative meaning.

To be continued . . .