When writing about improving you health more than, my columns focused on the physical body: healthy diet, exercise, and disease detection were common topics.
But the health lessons that stuck with me haven’t been about physical change over the years. The most significant improvements in my health and wellness come from inner fitness.
Inner fitness means concentrating energy on your expressive well-being and mental health instead of beating yourself up about your diet, weight, or insufficient exercise. It can contain mindfulness and meditation methods, a gratitude routine, or many other practices.
This inside-out method of health can also lead to changes in your physical well-being. Investigate shows, for example, that mindfulness can lower blood pressure, improve sleep, lead to better eating habits, and reduce chronic pain.
“Inner fitness means developing the mental, expressive, and spiritual skills and practices that foster resilience,” said Tina Lifford, writer of “The Little Book of Big Lies: A Journey to Inner Fitness.” “I want to see inner fitness become as ubiquitous, well-unspoken, and actionable as physical fitness.”
Lately, I’ve been shiny about the lessons I’ve learned about inner fitness since initialing the Well section nearly 15 years ago because I’ve realized it’s time to change. Although my talented colleagues at the Well desk will continue to write this newsletter weekly, this is the last time I will do so.