When people are able to do seemingly superhuman things physically and athletically, the body invariably is making use of its physical core, located in the abdominal section. Even the huge weight lifters, the guys with considerable girth who complete in strongest man competitions, have incredibly strong, highly developed abdominal muscles hiding just below those bulging waists.
We also have a mental and emotional core that can serve us well in business and in life, provided that we understand its function and value and proceed to develop and use it properly.
Core functionality and value
When the body’s core is strong and functioning properly, it takes first shift, if you will, in physical efforts, as illustrated in exercises such as sit ups. This protects other muscle groups, essentially relieving them of the duty at hand. When the stress is more than the core can handle, however, other muscle groups, such as those in the lower back, join in the effort. That’s when problems can and do occur.
Similarly, when our mental and emotional core is strong, it goes to work first, securing our emotional stability and keeping the ship steady as she goes. When the core, that innermost circle of how we feel about ourselves, our relationships and our basic outlook toward the world, unwanted feelings come into play and steadiness gives way to imbalance.
The value of a well-developed core is manifold:
- The strong core carries the day – In a world that contains more uncertainties than it does sure things, a well-developed core helps one move through the jungle with the ability to make sound decisions. The perfect example is someone whose financial portfolio has taken a hit with the recent roller coaster performance of the stock market. The strong core would have one think through the long-term financial goals and make thoughtful decisions. The weak core might give way to knee-jerk reactions, such as the unwise choice of buying high and selling low.
- The strong core provides a valuable point of focus – In exercise, a trainer will often direct the client to “use that core” to prevent involvement of other muscle groups. In life, giving focus to the core, that bundle of beliefs, values and self-concept that no external event can touch, provides a safe haven in a tumultuous world. In short, when you’re focused on the good stuff, you see less of the bad stuff.
- The strong core provides both astonishment and comfort to others – “How do you remain so calm when your net worth is plunging by the day?” some might ask. Then they can say to themselves, “If she can keep smiling through this mess, I’d like a helping or two of that myself.”
Developing and using the muscle properly
Here are five tips for building and using your mental and emotional core properly and effectively:
- Treat the news as a contagious virus; expose yourself to it at your own risk – A steady diet of pictures and audio of horrendous events, including violence, financial disaster, even the reporting of election outcomes that didn’t go the way you’d like, can and does result in emotional indigestion and poor emotional health and energy. In addition to its intended meaning, the term “breaking news” also aptly describes the effect on one’s spirits.
- Be quiet – Some of the best exercise you can provide for your emotional and mental core is to do nothing at all. Sit quietly and allow your mind to do the same. This relieves the incessant bombardment of bad news, sales messages and the general cacophony that is the default position in modern-day society.
- Read or view something that builds – Take a break from the newspaper and read a biography of someone who rose to the occasion during tough times. A friend spent much of her Thanksgiving weekend watching the entire dramatic presentation of the life of John Adams. Do you think these are challenging times? Try starting a new country following a war for independence when everyone is still vying for influence, position and advantage in a new republic. Even if you read what some would consider escapist literature, at least you’ve made the choice rather than exposing yourself to whatever the editors and publishers deem newsworthy.
- Write those morning pages – Those who have been around me for more than a year have heard me recommend this practice ad nauseam. Julia Cameron recommends this from personal experience in her book, The Artist’s Way. Fill three pages of a notebook or tablet, handwritten, on whatever comes to mind. You can pray, journal, complain, write goals or make your to-do list for the next few days. Again, you stay within your core because you have complete control of what goes on the page.
- Get some extra rest – It goes against the grain to add sleep to your schedule when all indicators say it’s time to work harder. Nonetheless, there’s ample research to support the body’s need for additional sleep, especially during the portion of the year when nights are longer. The body’s natural rhythm ties closely to the seasons and cycles of the calendar. With extra rest and sleep, you’re likely to enjoy greater energy and be in the best possible position mentally and emotionally. Picture yourself, perhaps defiantly, saying to the world, “Is that all you’ve got?” When you’re in that space, that’s when you know that your core is fully engaged and working on your behalf.
Keeping your core strong, physically, mentally and emotionally will serve you well regardless of the period of your life or the current cycle of the economy. Implement these recommendations and you’ll find it particularly valuable in turbulent times.
