Endurance & Neuroscience.

People keep speaking their limitations over me.

As many of you know I’m expecting my first child any day now.

So, I’ve heard from others –

“Oh get ready to be tired, sleepless, irritable, say goodbye to life.” Etc.

I’m deeply thankful for the warnings & I’ve recognized that pattern.

Whereas I am fully aware fatigue will be inevitable & it is a unique challenge –

I refuse to allow fear to enter into me.

So, in preparation for this trialing experience, I did 4 rounds of cold plunge 1-4 minutes each & rotated with rounds of sauna for 30 minutes.

With my whole face under the fridged ice water I prayed for my child, my wife, & myself.

In that moment, the word “endurance” was given to me by the Most High.

I love etiology (the meanings & roots of words), so I looked it up -

Endurance stems from the Latin work “indurare” which means to harden, or “durus” hence DUR-able.

As I reflected on that, it integrated into my approach I use for my clients, my patients, & myself.

P.I.E.S – Physically, intellectually, emotionally, & spiritually.

So, it clicked, to not simply endure physically.. to grit my teeth & survive –

But intellectually - “how long can you sustain focus, concentration, & keep your promise in the face of pain?

Emotionally - “how long can you maintain positive emotion & gratitude under stress?”

Spiritually - “how long can you stay connected to your purpose, the animating force of life, the source of inspiration.. under profound adversity & against the forces that are out to steal it from you?”

With this shift in my understanding & approach to the concept of endurance..

It has been one of the best weeks of my life though also one of the most difficult.

“I’m not just going to grit my teeth & suffer through this.

I will find joy, clarity, & power in the face of it.”

From that neuroscience perspective I love to use –

The anterior mid-cingulate cortex is the brain area responsible for willpower & tenacity in human beings.

It can get bigger or smaller, better or worse, depending on the stimulus we give it.

In this case, simply pushing past your limits when you least want to.

This gave me strength because even at the worse of life, there is a deep purpose & reason to endure -

“We’re recreating a new you, a new brain, a new nervous system.. one that is capable & able, dear Benjamin.

It’ll be worth it. Welcome it. Use it. Be thankful for it.”

So, this week I’m extending that invite to you all as well.

Let’s order the chaos in a beautiful fashion.

If you’d like to hear more, my lovely wife & I recorded a podcast over this subject to be released on Spotify & YouTube.

Stay the course brothers & sisters.