Have you ever had one of those days where you felt like your mind and body are

00:00:05.237 --> 00:00:06.677

conspiring against you?

00:00:06.977 --> 00:00:12.197

You already don't feel well, and now your mind starts joining in on the party.

00:00:12.477 --> 00:00:15.637

You're starting to think, ugh, all these bad thoughts.

00:00:16.137 --> 00:00:21.097

Today, my friend, we're talking about this connection between the mind and the body.

00:00:21.357 --> 00:00:27.057

How, when we're not feeling our best, it can so easily affect our mental state.

00:00:27.057 --> 00:00:32.017

I promise you this, is that by the end of today's episode, you will discover

00:00:32.017 --> 00:00:36.837

five awesome tools to help you handle these difficult days.

00:00:37.257 --> 00:00:42.617

And that is all inside of today's episode, my friend. I look forward to seeing you inside.

00:00:43.197 --> 00:00:45.957

Welcome to episode 343.

00:00:47.157 --> 00:00:51.077

Yo, are you ready to flip the script on life? Because those bad days,

00:00:51.197 --> 00:00:55.857

they're just doors to better days. And that's exactly what we do here at Grit,

00:00:56.017 --> 00:00:57.217

Grace, and Inspiration.

00:00:57.417 --> 00:01:00.977

Your host, Kevin Lowe. He's been flipping the script on his own life,

00:01:01.237 --> 00:01:05.517

turning over 20 years of being completely blind into straight-up inspiration,

00:01:05.897 --> 00:01:08.237

motivation, and encouragement just for you.

00:01:08.477 --> 00:01:13.757

So, kick back, relax, and let me introduce you to your host, Kevin Lowe.

00:01:14.297 --> 00:01:18.017

I want to share with you the inspiration for today's topic.

00:01:18.297 --> 00:01:23.497

But before I do, I want you to understand that I'm talking about myself here,

00:01:23.717 --> 00:01:30.517

but I want you to think of yourself because what inspired today's episode is a couple of weeks ago,

00:01:30.957 --> 00:01:33.557

I had a few days where I wasn't doing real great.

00:01:33.777 --> 00:01:38.037

I was feeling off. There was some issues related to some of my medical issues.

00:01:38.897 --> 00:01:43.497

And what always happens is even though I know it's temporary,

00:01:43.497 --> 00:01:49.857

I can't help but find myself going into almost like a depressed state.

00:01:49.857 --> 00:01:53.237

I start thinking about all these things from the negative.

00:01:53.657 --> 00:01:58.677

From a guy who is all about the glass being half full, if not overflowing,

00:01:58.677 --> 00:02:03.817

I instead start seeing that glass is bone dry. I don't know if you can relate.

00:02:04.097 --> 00:02:08.077

Maybe it's a day you just wake up on the wrong side of the bed.

00:02:08.297 --> 00:02:14.237

It's an afternoon that just doesn't go right. And maybe you're just not feeling your best.

00:02:14.397 --> 00:02:17.957

You're sick that day. You're having to go to work when you don't want to.

00:02:17.957 --> 00:02:25.657

And you can't help but find that your mental state is impacted by how you are feeling physically.

00:02:26.177 --> 00:02:31.417

Ironically enough, I'm recording today's episode later than normal.

00:02:31.717 --> 00:02:38.177

Yes, my amazing editor, Angela, can testify the fact that I am a few days late

00:02:38.177 --> 00:02:44.497

because I had another one of these instances hit me when it was time to record today's episode.

00:02:44.497 --> 00:02:49.937

Yes, it's being inspired by what happened a few weeks ago, but now it just hit

00:02:49.937 --> 00:02:52.577

me again. Another similar situation.

00:02:53.332 --> 00:02:58.032

And like before, I didn't feel well. So then what happens? Well,

00:02:58.232 --> 00:03:00.812

then my mind starts getting in the way.

00:03:01.312 --> 00:03:06.052

But here's the thing is that I've had this happen enough that I've come up with

00:03:06.052 --> 00:03:10.072

some strategies, some tactics, some tools to help me get through it.

00:03:10.452 --> 00:03:15.792

And I wanted to share those with you today in the hopes that it can be a help to you.

00:03:16.232 --> 00:03:19.992

So when you find yourself in a situation like I'm talking about,

00:03:20.192 --> 00:03:24.812

when you're not feeling your best physically, your mental state is going down

00:03:24.812 --> 00:03:27.152

the drain, here's what I want you to do.

00:03:27.652 --> 00:03:31.732

First and foremost, I want you to listen to your body. I don't want you to push

00:03:31.732 --> 00:03:34.232

yourself beyond the limits.

00:03:34.292 --> 00:03:36.892

I want you to give yourself a break.

00:03:36.972 --> 00:03:41.212

If your body's telling you that you're tired, well, then maybe you need to sit

00:03:41.212 --> 00:03:43.932

down, take a little rest, take a little nap.

00:03:44.192 --> 00:03:48.272

I want you to listen to your body. Don't fight against it.

00:03:48.572 --> 00:03:54.612

Just be one with it. Number two, I want you to practice self-compassion.

00:03:54.972 --> 00:04:00.172

Yes, my friend, it is easy in these moments these days to beat ourselves up.

00:04:00.452 --> 00:04:05.652

We start talking bad about ourselves. We can't stand ourselves of why we feel

00:04:05.652 --> 00:04:08.672

like this, why we don't feel good.

00:04:08.812 --> 00:04:11.332

Why can't we be like, quote, everyone else?

00:04:11.972 --> 00:04:17.272

Instead, I want you to focus on giving yourself the grace to heal without judgment.

00:04:17.632 --> 00:04:22.272

It's okay that you're having this happen today. It's perfectly normal.

00:04:22.292 --> 00:04:24.812

I believe it's part of being a human.

00:04:25.032 --> 00:04:30.632

There's good days and there's bad days. My third little tool is to stay connected.

00:04:30.772 --> 00:04:37.192

I encourage you, even when you're feeling down and you don't feel like talking

00:04:37.192 --> 00:04:39.712

to anybody, I want you to reach out to somebody,

00:04:40.292 --> 00:04:44.492

Whether it's a close family member or a friend, somebody who's in your circle,

00:04:44.652 --> 00:04:49.172

somebody who knows you better than you know you, I want you to reach out to

00:04:49.172 --> 00:04:51.612

them. Send them a text message. Give them a call.

00:04:52.172 --> 00:04:55.952

Because even though you don't feel like talking to anybody right now,

00:04:56.112 --> 00:04:58.072

I promise it's going to help you.

00:04:58.851 --> 00:05:03.331

So, figure out who that person is, and you reach out to them.

00:05:03.951 --> 00:05:06.411

Don't try to get through these days alone.

00:05:07.131 --> 00:05:10.951

Now, my fourth little tip is what I'm going to call mindful movement.

00:05:11.431 --> 00:05:17.051

I'm not encouraging you to go out for a jog or to get on the elliptical machine

00:05:17.051 --> 00:05:18.311

and start pumping it out.

00:05:18.431 --> 00:05:20.831

No, you're not feeling good physically.

00:05:21.071 --> 00:05:26.091

You darn sure aren't feeling like doing anything mentally. And so instead,

00:05:26.471 --> 00:05:32.271

I encourage you just to do some meditation, some yoga, some gentle stretching,

00:05:32.931 --> 00:05:35.571

anything to start trying to move your body.

00:05:36.151 --> 00:05:42.511

Obviously, if you're sick, physically sick, give yourself the time to rest.

00:05:42.751 --> 00:05:47.411

All of these tactics, they play in with how you are feeling.

00:05:47.411 --> 00:05:50.351

So if you need the rest, I want you to take the time to rest.

00:05:50.351 --> 00:05:55.371

But if you're at that point where it's really more your mental state than anything

00:05:55.371 --> 00:05:59.391

else, well, this is so good for you. Get out and take a walk.

00:05:59.651 --> 00:06:04.071

It doesn't have to be far. You don't have to walk fast, but just get out and

00:06:04.071 --> 00:06:05.431

take a leisurely stroll.

00:06:05.911 --> 00:06:14.051

Anything to get you outside. Get your mind focused on things that aren't related to you in your life.

00:06:14.051 --> 00:06:20.011

And then my number five little tactic, a tool, whatever you want to call it.

00:06:20.811 --> 00:06:25.971

Is kind of goes right in line with the movement. It's your nutrition.

00:06:26.231 --> 00:06:31.411

Now, I get it. When we aren't feeling well, we're feeling depressed.

00:06:31.831 --> 00:06:37.611

I'm all about a pint of chunky monkey ice cream with a spoon just for you.

00:06:37.611 --> 00:06:42.391

But in reality, if it goes on for more than a day...

00:06:43.205 --> 00:06:46.525

We need to really start thinking about how can we really take care of ourselves.

00:06:46.845 --> 00:06:50.645

We need to start feeding ourselves the stuff that our body needs,

00:06:50.885 --> 00:06:52.185

getting good nutrition.

00:06:52.485 --> 00:06:58.845

Don't use this as a time to totally just ditch nutrition and go full in on junk

00:06:58.845 --> 00:07:00.285

food and getting drive-thrus.

00:07:00.785 --> 00:07:04.385

No, all that's going to do is end up making us feel worse.

00:07:05.025 --> 00:07:10.365

Not only is the food total crap, but we're going to end up, you know it,

00:07:10.805 --> 00:07:13.245

beating yourself up about what you just did.

00:07:13.525 --> 00:07:17.065

Why did I do that? Why do I always have to fall into this hole?

00:07:17.245 --> 00:07:19.925

You know exactly what I'm talking about.

00:07:20.285 --> 00:07:25.305

So instead, I encourage you to bust out some fruits and vegetables.

00:07:25.785 --> 00:07:30.965

Plan out a meal. Go to the grocery store. You can knock out two birds with one stone.

00:07:31.145 --> 00:07:37.545

Get you out and about. Plus picking up some good food for you to feed your body.

00:07:37.745 --> 00:07:41.505

You need good energy, especially when you're not feeling your best.

00:07:41.825 --> 00:07:47.205

Now, the biggest thing I want you to hear is that you're not alone.

00:07:47.745 --> 00:07:50.685

That I've been through this. I go through this.

00:07:50.965 --> 00:07:55.685

As somebody who has my own medical issues, well, I get it.

00:07:55.965 --> 00:08:00.205

And I go through this periodically. And I know it's temporary.

00:08:00.265 --> 00:08:02.305

And yet it still affects me.

00:08:02.425 --> 00:08:08.245

And I guarantee you that it affects you as well. And that's why you're listening to today's episode.

00:08:08.525 --> 00:08:13.565

So I want you to remember to give yourself a break, to please remind yourself

00:08:13.565 --> 00:08:18.785

that it's only temporary, that tomorrow is a new day, that you'll feel better

00:08:18.785 --> 00:08:21.245

tomorrow. You just have to get through today.

00:08:21.585 --> 00:08:27.885

And my hope is that at least one of these five tactics you can use to help make

00:08:27.885 --> 00:08:33.885

your day a little less horrible, to help you get through this day and so you

00:08:33.885 --> 00:08:36.485

can get back to living the life that you love to live.

00:08:37.605 --> 00:08:40.965

So to recap, to emphasize what I just said,

00:08:41.702 --> 00:08:46.762

The three biggest takeaways for today's episode was me wanting to be sure that

00:08:46.762 --> 00:08:50.642

you understood that you're not alone. You're not the only one.

00:08:51.002 --> 00:08:56.142

Number two, that these days don't last forever. But you will get through this,

00:08:56.182 --> 00:08:58.082

and tomorrow is a brand new day.

00:08:58.982 --> 00:09:02.322

And you will feel better soon enough.

00:09:02.622 --> 00:09:08.382

You know this. You've been through it before. You know that this is not forever. It's temporary.

00:09:08.822 --> 00:09:12.802

You know it. So just realize that it's going to be okay.

00:09:13.502 --> 00:09:19.742

And of course, number three takeaway is that hopefully one of the five strategies

00:09:19.742 --> 00:09:24.742

that have helped me can hopefully help you. If you need to hit rewind,

00:09:24.742 --> 00:09:27.642

listen to them again, well, then by all means do so.

00:09:28.542 --> 00:09:35.042

And hey, if anything else, if you would ever just love to have somebody to talk

00:09:35.042 --> 00:09:40.222

to, you don't ever hesitate to reach out to me. I know I'm just your podcast host.

00:09:40.402 --> 00:09:43.982

You don't know me. I don't know you. But you know what? It doesn't matter.

00:09:44.262 --> 00:09:50.682

I'm in your ears talking to you twice a week, every week. And so I would love to get to meet you.

00:09:51.102 --> 00:09:54.182

Inside of every episode's show notes, you will find a link.

00:09:54.302 --> 00:09:59.322

You can send me a voice message. You can also book a time for me and you to

00:09:59.322 --> 00:10:00.762

have a virtual coffee date.

00:10:01.202 --> 00:10:05.102

Whatever you want to do, the information is inside of today's show notes,

00:10:05.102 --> 00:10:10.942

as well as all over my website found at GritGraceInspiration.com.

00:10:11.082 --> 00:10:14.822

And with that, my friend, I hope today's episode helped you,

00:10:15.222 --> 00:10:21.162

encouraged you, inspired you, and maybe have you realizing that you're not the

00:10:21.162 --> 00:10:23.482

only one going through these hard times.

00:10:23.760 --> 00:10:43.237

Music.