By Pastor AK Omotayo
A few years ago, the Lord used the most unlikely means to restore my sanity. Pastors’ wives are notorious for overcommitting and overstretching ourselves. A number of us work full-time, in addition to taking on any duties or ministries in the church that no one else wants, or no one else is currently equipped to do. Add to that mix, shouldering quite a few of the responsibilities on the home-front so that our Pastor-husbands can focus on the Church. Plus acting as Mother, Mentor, Counselor, Friend, Spiritual Guide and a host of other things to our congregation.
We can get so used to giving, that we forget how to receive, every now and again.
We can get so used to helping others, we forget that sometimes we need help too – or refuse to accept help provided.
We can get so used to pouring ourselves out, that we forget that our Emotional tank needs refilling as well.
We neglect ourselves, until we are running on Empty – tired, frustrated, and joyless.
That was the state in which I found myself that January. To crown it all, we had just gone through a painful loss of a family member, but I had gotten so used to comforting others, I didn’t know how to allow myself to be comforted. I was so run down, and felt tired all the time, that I eventually ended up at my doctor’s office, convinced I had some dreaded disease!
After running a list of tests as long as my arm, and finding nothing physically wrong with me, my doctor informed me that my health issues were emotional and gently suggested antidepressants. The pharmacist in me was horrified! (Yeah, I’m one of those health-care professionals that avoid medication like the plague).
So I asked if there were any other options…and he recommended “EXERCISE.”
Okkkkay…I was exhausted all the time, and extremely busy, and felt ill…and he thinks I need to exercise?
Where was I to find the time? Or the will? And the energy? And did I mention the TIME?
So I decided to just go back to doing what I knew to do, which is Prayer. So I left his office and stepped right back into my frenetic life, doubling up on prayer and even adding fasting to it, only to end up a few months later, in the doctor’s office (new doctor this time), but same advice.
As I left the 2nd doctor that day, I poured out my heart to God, and asked Him to help me, but it seemed that He agreed with my doctors, as all I could here over and over again was the same word – ‘Exercise’. So like, the nerd that I am, I decided to do some research.
Did you know that even mild to moderate exercise releases endorphins (endogenous opioid neuropeptides) into the body, which cause euphoria, and a general feeling of happiness and wellness? It’s the free antidepressant that has no side effects!
And exercise actually improves your mood and helps combat stress, partly by stimulating various brain chemicals that leave you feeling happier and more relaxed.
Oh, and did you know that exercise actually promotes better sleep? And you know how much better you feel when you sleep well!
Exercise also improves your sex life, and helps you maintain a healthier weight, which in turn makes you feel better, more confident and improves one’s self-esteem.
Plus, exercise helps the body fight off a host of illnesses and health problems, including heart disease, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis and falls. And we all know how physical illness can take a toll on your emotional wellbeing.
And -my personal favorite- exercise boosts energy! Who would have thought? I used to think I was too tired to exercise; now I realize I was too tired because I wasn’t exercising!
Physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently, so you have more energy to go about your daily chores. And if you are like me, uhmm, the chore list can get pretty long.
These are only a few of the benefits, and all of the above work wonders in improving our emotional health. So God knew all along what my doctors had been trying to tell me! All my weird symptoms took flight once I started exercising consistently.
You too can start small, and you can start now. All you need is a good pair of athletic shoes and a thumbs-up from your doctor if you are new to this. And you don’t even have to join a gym.
I started walking 10-15 minutes everyday, now I run or power-walk several miles every day. I love to walk outdoors, around my neighborhood, or at the park, or pace my living room if the weather is bad.
And there are also thousands of FREE Workout videos online. For instance, Fitness Blender has 100s of free YouTube videos, ranging from 5 minute to 1 hour sessions.
Exercise can and should be fun – play with your kids outdoors, run, skip, jumping jacks – the kids will love it. Or just play your favorite upbeat Praise music, and dance your heart out to the Lord. Oh, and don’t miss our Zumba sessions during the conference (Wink!)
