BODY Body

The Importance of Positive Stress

By: Drew Long
Black-and-white bodybuilder with arms wide posing on stage before a packed arena audience

Today we close out the series of articles on The Fierce Gentlemans Foundations by examining the role of positive stress.

F.G. FOUNDATION IV: POSITIVE STRESS

This world has filled us all with negative stress: toxic chemicals in the environment, toxic emotions in our “entertainment” and relationships, and toxic habits in our businesses & communities.

It’s thus crucially important to detoxify ourselves from all the negative stress, and just as important to add positive stress to our lives.

Positive stress, such as lifting weights, playing soccer, reading hard books, or solving hard math problems, leads to personal growth.

This is why we recommend all Fierce Gentleman have at least a four-day-per-week exercise routine, according to your tastes: anything from lacrosse to weightlifting can be beneficial, so long as it continues for longer than 20 minutes and causes you to break out into a sweat.

Additionally, regular exercise has been shown to actually act like Miracle-Grow in the brain, causing BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) to be released, protecting against cognitive decline and improving brain health.

You will gain willpower & self-discipline as a result of working out, and improving your mental & physical diets. As you get more willpower, you may then turn it to the task of learning that second language, teaching yourself to program, or tackling the classic literature you’ve always wanted to read.

Positive stress, coupled with adequate rest & recovery, is what allows you to out-grow your old self, excel to heights never thought possible, conquer your demons, & save the world.

FIERCE GENTLEMANS FOUNDATIONS : SUMMARY

That sums up our Fierce Gentlemans Foundations series.

Here’s a quick summary:

  1. You can change what you are, and where you are, by changing what goes into your mind. (Mental Diet)
  2. You can radically transform your physical appearance & performance by changing what goes into your body. (Eating a Clean Diet)
  3. You must rest, recovery & repair on a regular basis. (The Power of Rest)
  4. You must put yourself under positive stress if you wish to grow.

These Foundations are the beginning of the path. They are the most concrete steps you can take to building yourself into the brighter, better version of yourself that you have always known is within you. These are your keys to unlocking your full potential.

We hope this has been helpful.

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