Two things I observed. Working out teaches you to accept the pain and meditation teaches you to let things go. How do both relate? Meditation makes neurological changes in your brain. But regarding working out, people think that working out adds to the physical change only. But truth to be told, I found that working out has as much neurological effects on brain as physical changes. It is that one’s focus on neurological changes is concealed by his focus on physical changes. But, you need meditation and working out in tandem to observe this.
How about pain? Everyone encounters it. Everyone is hurt time to time. I observed something recently. When I was hurt recently, I cussed out loud, “Wow, this hurt…!” With it, I accepted the pain. What more can pain do once you’ve accepted it. Then I smiled and said again, “Wow, this hurt…!” (Deep down, I was thinking pain makes me more stronger. Thinking this becomes a default mode when you work out.) Then, on its own, that thought, that blow, that pain, withered away. I felt light, as if the pain thing didn’t occur. It was the combination of both – Workouts teach you to accept the pain, and meditation teaches you to let go…
Man, I was pretty late to the party. I wish I could have started these three things when I was 18.
1. Reading Books – I started at 20, I was 2 years late.
2. Meditation – I took it seriously at 27. I was 9 years late.
3. Workouts – I started it at 27. I was 9 years late.
But as they say – The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now!