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Happiness Requires Action.

I've been scrawny my entire life. I've been told I have chicken legs, I've seen my mid-section grow while the rest of my body stayed the same. I often joke, I've got a face made for radio. For years, I didn't really have anything I liked about my body. That all changed when I started lifting and hit a major milestone. When I started in 2013, I could barely lift my body weight. But with time and effort, I got my favorite lift, the dead lift, up to over 400 lbs.

So, what changed as I trained my way to a goal of a 400 lb deadlift? My body did look a little different. Bigger, more solid muscles, certainly. But, I still had lots I didn't like about how I looked. My arms were still toothpicks, my legs were still disproportionate and my stomach wasn't any smaller. The same things I didn't like about my body to begin with were still there. I did have a major mental shift though. 

Even though my body had barely changed on the outside, my mind changed. I liked what I could do, even if I wasn't thrilled with the way I looked. This shift in perspective enabled me to accept that I may never be a model, but I could still be happy with myself. Focusing on what is possible, training my body to be useful and actually using it has made me a happier person.

There are countless articles about how exercise releases endorphins and other chemicals into your body that give you a burst of energy and shift you into a more positive mood. I'm not discrediting any of that here. However, I also think there is a more general boost to happiness when we see that we are capable. After all, even on days when I am not exercising, I still know what my body is capable of and I'm still a bit happier for that knowledge.

To my mind, this boost doesn't even have to come from exercise. It comes from knowing you are capable. Maybe its a hidden talent, painting, playing guitar, knowing a handful of foreign languages. Maybe it is something physical, like lifting or being really good at kickball. Maybe you are a little nerdy and have memorized the entire cast and story arch of Harry Potter, or have memorized the stats of every football player for the past 20 years. Knowing, and celebrating, your capabilities is an immense confidence and happiness booster.

Just bear in mind, that increasing your capabilities may be difficult. I'm trying to learn Finnish at the moment, and I've never been so bad at something I've cared so much about. I've been plugging away at it for months and will continue even though I don't see daily improvements and sometimes feel like I'm forgetting more than I learn. That is ok, and you may experience it to. Stick with it, even if it gets hard, because the effort makes your new hard-won skill that much more satisfying.

I'm wondering what your thoughts are. Do you feel happier, like I do, knowing what you've been able to accomplish? What are you most proud of being able to do? Let me know in the comments, and as always, have a wonderful day.


Matt

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