Many of us are altogether too good at compartmentalizing the various aspects of our lives, and as a result we can find ourselves lacking integrity (from the root “integer”, which refers to whole numbers). I’m not making a moral assessment or judgement when I refer to integrity, so please don’t receive the wrong message.
Integrity refers to the integration – the interconnected whole – of a person.
Any time we pause to focus on a given aspect or element of our life, it is important to think about how the part factors into the whole. Not only will this ensure a more profitable and useful introspection, but it will also expand our ability to apply helpful analogous paradigms.
For example, physical fitness evaluations typically assess cardio endurance, muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility and body composition. Each of these can be improved or diminished by our habits and discipline in diet and exercise.
Analogous thinking would encourage us to assess/evaluate our mental and spiritual health in much of the same way.
How flexible are you mentally? How strong are you spiritually? What is your mental endurance – how much can you manage for a prolonged amount of time before growing weary? What is your mind composition, or your spirit composition?
On the surface these can all feel like abstract metaphors, but that probably has more to do with the fact that we’ve developed into a culture that obsesses over matter to the near exclusion of everything else. It makes sense to make a regular assessment of our physical health and abilities, but it’s less common to make a regular assessment of our mental and spiritual health and abilities.
Just as we can improve or diminish our physical health through our diet and exercise, we can also improve or diminish our mental health and our spiritual health through our diet and exercise.
In the general sense, “diet” simply refers to what we are taking in – what we are feeding ourselves. As with physical health, we determine our goals and then adjust our diet accordingly. Our input largely determines our output.
One person may determine to “bulk up” their muscle mass and strength, and so may opt to take in more calories, proteins, fats, etc., while another person may determine to emphasize their body composition and would then opt to take in fewer calories, sugars and fats, etc. The goal informs the diet.
In the same way, we can determine our mental goals. Perhaps our goal for a season is to bulk up our logic, puzzle and problem solving skills, or perhaps our goal is to refine our emotional intelligence, or perhaps our goal is to exercise and cultivate our ability to think and act creatively. Our goal should then inform our mental diet. What are we taking in? And is that what’s going to most effectively help us to reach our goals?
The same is true of our spiritual health and goals.
Observe the wisdom of Solomon in Proverbs chapter 2 (verses 1-10):
“My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you, make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice, and He preserves the way of His godly ones. Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity and every good course. For wisdom will enter into your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.”
If…. Then. If….. Then.
There is a natural order of events – we don’t start off with good health and then decide to start practicing good disciplines. The discipline comes first. The struggle, the challenge, the pain comes first.
In the same way that our goals inform/determine our diet, our goals also inform/determine our exercise.
How are you exercising your mind? Have you cultivated the skills, knowledge and abilities to achieve your goals?
How are you exercising your spirit? Are you already where you want to be? Or is there work to be done?
Exercise is how we train and what we put out.
Just like our bodies, our minds/spirits are made to be used, exercised, worked and grown, but also rested intentionally.
No one works out five times and immediately achieves lasting physical health – even if they do “power workouts” for hours on end. In the same way, no one works out their mind or spirit a few times only to find that they’ve achieved lasting health.
It’s an ongoing, disciplined process, and the majority of our decisions in diet and exercise over time is going to play the biggest role in our lasting health, be that physical, mental or spiritual.
Choose well, and choose often.
Just for a Closer Walk 