The Reprogrammed System’s Approach’s third Key Principle states that the human body has been designed to improve given a balance of stress and rest.
- When the body is put under a load, it undergoes physical changes that serve as a signal that some sort of improvement should be made.
- Following the signal, the body needs time to rest and recover as it goes through changes that bring it back better able to take on similar challenges in the future
This balance between stressing the human body and giving it a chance to rest and recover allows it to go through cycles of improvement. However, when this balance is thrown off, the body not only does not improve, but instead begins to decline in health.
This poses a challenge for us. If we want to improve, we need to take on enough challenges in ways that our bodies are stressed; and yet, we must take care that we do not take on too much such that we are not giving our bodies the time and space they need to rest and recover.
We are all familiar with taking on too much. Given the pressures of our modern world, it seems to be the norm to take on more than we can handle.
Is this the kind of stress that leads us down the path of improvement?
Stress and Improvement
To understand the answer to this question, we need to understand a basic design principle of the human body as a biological system: the system that is the human body exists as a complex network of factors maintaining a dynamic state of equilibrium.
That’s a mouthful, so let’s unpack this statement.
Dynamic: no one factor is usually kept at a constant level in a biological system. Each factor is generally fluctuating around an average value (the mean). This occurs because biological systems are networks of dynamic processes – something is always happening that causes any particular factor to elevate or decline.
Complex: multiple factors are always at play within any sub-system.
Dynamic and complex biological system: The system exists as multiple factors that are constantly interacting with themselves (internal) and with the environment (external) such that over time equilibrium of the system (and each individual factor) is achieved. This dynamic state of equilibrium is termed homeostasis.
Now that you understand the general idea of a complex, dynamic biological system, let’s look at some of the details that are relevant to today’s topic.
First, note that as long as each factor stays within a set of limits (what I will call sustainable limits), the system is able to continue operating indefinitely.
Often times, though, an external force comes into play to significantly impact this equilibrium. From our discussion above, we can label this significant force that causes this change as a stress.
Let’s now see what happens when this state is perturbed – that is, when external factors enter in and change up the system.
When external factors impact the system, any particular variable may be forced out of the sustainable operating window.
If the stress is moderate, then the particular factor may rise above or drop below the sustainable operating window. If this is the case, then the system isn’t in immediate danger; chances are it will return back down to “normal” once the stress is removed and the system will return to existing within a healthy window of operation.
However – and this is a key point so pay attention – if something doesn’t happen to change the workings of the system, then the system is at risk of the same type of stress coming back again, maybe even stronger. And, if it does, then there may be an immediate and catastrophic threat to the system.
What this means is, if any system wants to continue functioning, it needs to be able to change itself so that when it encounters a similar challenge in the future, it is better equipped to survive.
Fortunately, biological systems have this particular ability to change – to adapt – so that they are better able to face similar challenges in the future. That is, an inherent property of biological systems is that they can improve to be more capable of surviving among their environments.
This adaptation comes into play – and this is a second key point so pay attention – when a particular factor is outside of its normal operating window.
This is, again, why we take on challenges – so that we can leave our normal operating windows and send our bodies the signal that they need to improve.
When does stress become too much?
Sometimes, I hit a point in my day, week, month, or any other time period through which I have taken on a significant burden of stress, and I just need to detach.
This happens when I feel that I have taken on far too much. When I reach this point, there seems to be no other option other than to turn off my brain and let the comforts of the modern world take over.
What I have learned is that the greatest rewards come when I don’t detach, but instead tune in – when I engage with my self: body, brain, and mind.
When I engage in activities that take me back into my body, I find that I come out the other side with a renewed sense of energy and some new knowledge and perspective.
Sometimes, we find ourselves hitting a point where what is really needed is to let go.
However, if we can develop a practice where we routinely engage with our bodies, what we may find is that we make it through the days, weeks, and months in a cycle that is a regular application of stress as we take on challenges, followed by a recovery period in which we gain back some of that energy as we learn, grow, and improve.
Your task for today is to find one activity that you can engage in that will allow you to tune in – to engage as you strive to find a healthy balance of stress in your life.
Practice
There are three practices that I have found useful for tuning in.
The first, and simplest, is the following: to sit down, unplug from all technology, turn off all sounds, and to simply just be. When we sit in stillness – completely unplugged from the world around us – we will naturally get in tune with our bodies.
When the humdrum of the modern world is gone, we have no choice but to tune in – to finally hear what our bodies are trying to tell us – and, hopefully, to respond in a manner that is aligned with the needs of the body.
The second – one which requires a bit more effort (along with a willingness to be open-minded) – is a meditation practice.
There are many ways to meditate, but for those who are just starting out, I recommend a body scan. You can find a short scan that will take less than 10 minutes here.
The third – one which requires the most effort, and yet I have found to provide a significant return on investment: yoga.
Here’s a short and simple practice for beginners from one of my favorite free, online instructors.
Your task for today is to pick one of these options and try it out. There’s no wrong choice. Just pick based on what feels most welcoming to you today.
Then, repeat this exercise at least once a day – whether it’s a minute of stillness, 10-20 minutes of meditation, or a 10-60 minute yoga practice.
Remember the big idea: when we get back in tune with our bodies, we give them the time and space they need to perform the functions that are required to come back stronger.