How is this Running Benefiting Me?

“Next drill: 10 suicides. Go.”

Groans escaped from my volleyball team as we repeated the suicide drill of running from line to line across the gymnasium floor. I didn’t understand why we had to do so much running. The court was not that large, and was not nearly the size of a football or soccer field. And this would have been considered an extreme punishment for two missed serves-there is a reason this is called the suicide drill. I tried to concentrate on something other than the running as my leg muscles screamed at me in the middle of the fourth suicide.

It wasn’t until later I realized why my team and I were constantly doing running drills. It wasn’t because our coach was punishing us; it wasn’t because she liked to see us in pain. It was because the drills provided us with more agility and stamina when it came time to play a game. Our coach made us go through the pain of those drills to improve our performance in the game. 

Our perspectives have a significant impact on how we handle certain events that come our way. Sometimes in life we are placed in complicated situations and encounter difficult people. At the time, it is hard to see how a particularly trying event could possibly have a positive outcome. (how is this running benefiting me again?) We may have a bleak outlook. But I have found as I look back on various experiences throughout my life, that I have learned valuable lessons and grown closer to Christ and more as a person through those hard times. Eventually I realize the importance of the lessons I have learned and see that I have become a more well-rounded person by encountering something difficult. Just as the goal of my coach was not to cause me pain but to prepare me for the game, the difficulties we experience in life are there to make us stronger and prepare us for what may come next.

In the end it really depends on the outlook we have when we encounter something difficult. If you are going through a difficult trial in your life right now, I encourage you to stick with it and not lose hope.  We can ask “why me?” a hundred times and meditate on nothing but the negative aspects of the issue, or we can ask “what can I learn from this and how will it make me a better person?” Looking back, you may be surprised at what you have learned just by changing your outlook on a particular situation.      

Rain, Rain Go Away...

The soft pitter patter of rain gently aroused me from my sleep this morning. I laid there for a few moments listening to the soothing sound before the alarmed buzzed in my ear. As I climbed out of bed, the necessary adjustments I would need to make for the day began streaming through my mind...no sandals, scrunch my hair, wear a jacket with a hood, find my umbrella… all of these modifications because of the rain. But my hairstyle and clothes weren’t the only things affected by the rain- my mood was affected as well. The gray clouds did not excite me, and knowing I would be wet and cold from the elements did not encourage me to have a good outlook on the day.

But does the weather actually have an impact on one’s mood or emotions? Some studies would suggest yes, others would suggest no. A study conducted in Germany found that specific elements in the weather such as temperature, wind, sunlight, precipitation, air pressure, and the length of the day, did not have a significant impact on positive moods, though temperature, wind, and sunlight appeared to influence how tired the participants were. While responses from this study were spread across such a broad spectrum, researchers could not deny the fact that there may be a correlation between weather and mood for some people.

Others would argue there is no correlation and that it is up to the individual how they chose to feel on a particular day, regardless of the weather. While each of us has the ability to control our emotions and our dispositions, I believe there is a correlation (not causation) between the weather and a person’s mood. For example, another study of college students found that there was a significant link between the weather and their moods. There was a strong, positive correlation between optimism scores and sunlight hours. It also suggested an association between rising temperatures and lower anxiety scores. This supports the assumption of a link between disposition and the elements.   

Another example of how weather can influence a change in mood can be easily seen in those who have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Individuals with this disorder experience depression-like symptoms due to the lack of production of serotonin in the fall and throughout the winter months. Serotonin is a hormone produced when there is sunlight exposure and can help combat depression. This is why in the winter months when there are fewer daylight hours, the serotonin production decreases, thus affecting an individual’s mood.

There are many studies that have been done that show significant or insignificant correlations between the weather and one’s mood. While the evidence can go either way, there is definitely some sort of connection between the two. For some, the correlation may be more apparent than in others. So next time you find yourself in either a pleasant or gloomy mood, take note of the weather. I’d love to hear your thoughts on whether or not the weather played a part in your disposition! 

Brownies, Coffee, and Cake- Oh My!

The aroma entices me. It fills my nostrils and conjures up pleasant memories causing a sense of calmness to rush over me. I can’t fight it any longer, so I grab a pale blue mug and watch the last drop of freshly brewed Maxwell House coffee drip into the pot. I pour myself a cup, and as I circle my hands around the warm mug, begin to think of an accomplice.

Chocolate cake? Biscotti? Ooo…Chocolate chip cookies? Brownies? Cereal? Maybe a Reese’s Cup? Ice cream? What about those barbeque chips we have in the cupboard...  

I need something to accompany this delicious cup of coffee. But wait, I just ate an hour ago- I’m not hungry. Why do I want something to eat? My stomach isn’t growling. I don’t feel weak and I don't think I’m going to pass out…

In this case, my “hunger” is not really hunger. Hunger is the physiological need for food in order for the body to function properly. The real reason I want some form of food to accompany my coffee is because of my appetite. Appetite is the desire for food and is the psychological aspect of eating. It is the emotional cues you experience when you see, smell, and even think about food. So while my body does not need food, my desire for it encourages me to eat. For example, I know how delicious brownies taste, especially when chocolate chips have been added to them. The thought of pairing the sweetness of a brownie with the bitterness of coffee evokes a positive and satisfying emotional memory in my mind, thus increasing my desire for food. Now if I had a slice of peanut butter pie and coffee…

A knock interrupts my thoughts as my roommate opens the door to a few girls with a large cardboard box in their hands. They explain that they are selling baked goods for a service learning trip. Now I am really in a dilemma. I do not physically need food, but I have a desire for food. Do I say no thank you, knowing that I am physically satisfied, or do I buy something in order to gratify my psychological desire for food?

Twenty minutes later, I wipe the remaining peanut butter cookie crumbs off my desk and continue on with my homework, knowing that I not only supported a service learning trip, but also satisfied my appetite!  

What was I thinking?!

Why did I say that?! Why did I tell Angela that I liked that shirt? Susan, Theresa, and Maggie all said it looked cute and that she should try it on. Really?! Not for a blind date! It looked like a pink flamingo had exploded on it! She’s going to look like a disaster; why didn’t I just speak up and tell her how hideous the shirt was?

Have you ever been in a situation similar to this one? Perhaps you’re out with a group of friends or colleagues and everyone else seems to view a situation differently than you do. Instead of speaking your mind about the issue, you nod your head and agree with what everyone else has said. This is a prime example of conformity and is influenced by our sometimes unconscious desire to be accepted by our peers. As social beings, we are very much influenced by the thoughts and actions of those around us, so much so that we at times “change” our views to match what others have said so that we fit in, regardless of the situation. So next time before you conform to what others have said, think twice before one of your friends walks out of the store looking like a flamingo!