Best Life As a child, I was always a bit on the tubby side—or “stocky,” as my mother liked to say.

In an old, blurry home video from the early 1990s, you can see me at four years old, waddling sassily around the lawn, completely naked on a summer day. Watching it now, I couldn’t help but think, “Wow, I had a beer belly long before I ever drank beer!

Except for a few years of playing football in my teens, I did not spend a lot of time exercising or participating in competitive sports. That is, unless you include the times I went to Chinese buffets with friends, where we competed by shoving down plate after plate to see who could eat the most.

But my inactive days ended last year following an energizing chat with an avid runner.

He was an ultra-runner, a man in his forties who ran more than the typical marathon (26.2 miles). He informed me about a recent 100-mile running event, which piqued my interest. Why would you choose to put yourself through that? How does this running malarkey benefit anyone?

I can now confidently state that I understand the running bug.

Running is recognized to improve our fitness and health, but I gain so much more from the activity. I use running to live my best life in these seven ways.

1. Through running, I take control from my mind.

Would not it be more comfortable to watch Netflix at home?

You were not made to run!

Forrest Gump, who do you think you are?

The mind, ah.

Thoughts like this will undoubtedly come up on days when I typically run, tempting me to remain in my comfort zone so they may try to embarrass me later for not running.

Please understand that sometimes it is polite to call off a run if I am experiencing bodily discomfort or it is too hot, but it is not generally the cause of the mental resistance I experience both before and during a run.

My thinking murmurs, “Come on, that is reasonable enough for today.”

I respond, “No, we are going farther and deeper.”

Though we do not have to follow every thought, our minds will always attempt to prevent us from moving forward. We may learn to recognize when our minds are trying to restrict us and, if we so choose, dig deeper and continue on.

2. Running reminds me that the hardest part of any worthy pursuit is just starting.

The first hesitation goes away once I am running outside, and I just keep going. I have never turned around and gone home after running for two minutes.

This highlights an intriguing reality: the most difficult aspect of any worthwhile endeavor is frequently just getting started. Sitting down to write the first few words is the hardest aspect of writing a book. The hardest aspect of starting a difficult conversation is having the guts to say, “Hey, we need to talk.”

I gently remind myself that the hardest part is putting on my running shoes and leaving the house on the days when my mind starts to fight back. I have won the war once I get through the door, and I nearly always have fun.

3. Running reminds me to keep my head up and keep moving forward.

I was running a few weeks ago when I suddenly felt exhausted. I lowered my head. My legs felt like they were packed with lead, and I decreased my pace. As I thought about how far I still had to go, a sense of dread crept into my body.

However, I realized that I was reaching “runner’s wall” and recalled the Navy SEAL’s 40% rule, which states that although I felt fatigued for a moment, I had only utilized 40% of my capacity.

I inhaled deeply before slowly lifting my head to look up at the sky instead of the floor. Now, I was staring straight ahead, focused on the way ahead and where I wanted to go. I commanded my feet by repeatedly saying in my mind, “Left, right, left, right.” Then I took off running.

It is normal for our heads to drop when life throws us a curveball, but we can not allow them to stay down. Even though it may seem impossible to move forward, there will come a time when we must dig deep and muster the strength to take even a modest step forward.

“When you are going through hell, keep on going,” as Winston Churchill once stated.

4. Running helps me appreciate my body.

Unfortunately, the majority of us lack the “ideal” body that the media forces upon us. Because of this, exercise is often seen as a form of punishment. a penalty for being overweight or overeating the previous day.

Any kind of exercise does not have to be a punishment. Actually, we can see it as a celebration of our physical appearance.

After a run, I give my body credit for a job well done. Not everyone is blessed with a functional physique and good health, which I am fortunate to have.

Despite the fact that his body is far more limited than other people’s, my friend who has a chronic illness chooses to spend life grateful for what his body allows him to do. For instance, even though he is unable to complete lengthy excursions, he is thankful that he can walk at all and that he has friends who will carry him the remaining distance if he must stop.

5. Running emphasizes the importance of rest and recovery.

I have been kinder to myself and more understanding of my need to take breaks and recuperate since I started running. After a run, I usually stretch a little before relaxing for the remainder of the day since I have come to realize that if I do not give my body a break, it will eventually malfunction.

I used to think it was somehow honorable to keep myself occupied all day, every day, and that rest and recuperation made us weak. I now think that there are times when we should push ourselves while doing things and times when we should just be, and that both are equally vital to our general wellbeing.

6. Running has taught me that what I consume makes a difference.

I have become much more conscious of what I am eating, both mentally and physically, since I started running.

I can tell a difference between running on junk food and dehydration and eating healthily and staying hydrated. It matters a lot what we put in our mouths.

I think the kinds of information we consume and the ideas we instill in ourselves are also important. I once ran through a forest on high alert, watching my back every second. Why? I had read about a Puma that had escaped from a zoo 100 miles away in the local news before I left home. Even though I understood rationally that I would never see this fugitive Puma, my mind continued to worry out at the slightest rustle in the bushes.

On the other hand, I feel more inspired and have a bounce in my step when I read or watch an inspirational story before I leave the house.

Imagine the impact the media I consume will have on my life in the long run, whether it has a favorable or negative impact in the short term. It concerns what we eat.

7. Running reminds me of what’s possible.

Running shows me what is possible, which is perhaps the biggest way it helps me live my best life. Compared to my doubting inner critic, I can now run much farther than I ever imagined I could.

From someone who would hardly ever run to someone who now runs multiple times a week, I have changed. Above all, I have changed from someone who detested the idea of jogging to someone who enjoys and, dare I say it, loves it. Imagine what else I could do if I could change into a runner.

Do I believe that everyone should run? No.

I do think that my lessons can be useful to everyone, though. Do not let your thoughts to rule you. Just start, even if it is just by taking a small step, if you have something you want to do. Do not give up when things get difficult. Instead of concentrating on what you can not achieve, be grateful for what you can. Resting is essential; it is not a sign of laziness. Pay attention to what you eat and how it impacts you. And never forget that you are capable of far more than you realize.