Ancient Wisdom and Contemporary Care
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Socrates is attributed to having said, “What a disgrace it is for a man to grow old without ever seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.” Regardless of whether this phrase is apocryphal or accurately ascribed to the renowned ancient Greek philosopher, it’s a timeless statement.
It certainly rings true for me.
My fitness journey has been uplifting and revealing, because it has enabled me to practice self love and take pride in maintaining and growing my physical body. But a strong body will only reach its ultimate potential when the mind is equally robust. While I do feel the efficaciousness of exercise as a means of improving my physical and emotional well-being, the latter is still far from ideal.
No matter how hard I train my body, I still experience the effects of poor mental health. Endorphins from exercise alone are not a cure-all, and anyone who says so is deceiving you. I understand that the intrusive thoughts aspect of OCD is something that doesn’t go away. But like I have done to my body through physical conditioning, I can train my mind to follow motivational incentives that will set me up for success.
Therapist Ben Eckstein addresses what I find to be accurate to my experience managing OCD: “Identify potential rewards for sticking with your plan, but also notice the potential barriers and come up with ideas for what to do when things get hard. Remember, in order to reach your goals, you’ll need more than just desire; you'll need to assemble the pieces to set yourself up for success” (Eckstein, 2021).
The arduous process towards success is worth it, and I agree with
when he asserts that: “OCD isn't only a relentless thief of time and headspace, it's part of your personality and identity too. Being so tuned-in, especially to fears, can be harrowing, but with OCD, you're aware of lots of other interesting things too.”Although it is largely debilitating, OCD has also been an outlet for creative inspiration, as well as motivation to progress with my fitness routine. Most days it feels like a Sisyphean struggle; however I know that I have the tools and resources to grow in a manner that will set me up to actualize the beauty and strength of which my mind is capable.
References, Notes, Suggested Reading:
Alcee, Michael, “Camila Cabello on Why OCD is So Much More,” The Heart of OCD, 23 May 2024. https://malcee.substack.com/p/camila-cabello-on-why-ocd-is-so-much
Eckstein, Ben. “Willpower is Overrated,” Psychology Today, 26 October 2021. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/capturing-ocd/202110/willpower-is-overrated
Thank you for sharing your inner feelings this morning.
It’s super important to let others know your journey. Thank you!