Legislation Archives - Jeremy Fouts

Exercise

As we all know life is full of stressors, from starting a new job, losing a job, getting married, moving, financial obligations, etc. etc. Don’t get me wrong, a little bit of stress can be okay and can even help us perform better. However, many of us tend to deal with an unhealthy level of stress. What many people don’t realize is how effective exercise can be in helping decrease our stress levels. 

What happens when we get stressed is our brain releases the natural-occurring chemical, cortisol. What “fights” the cortisol, if you will, are endorphins. Right now, you are probably wondering, “How does knowing this help me?” Well, it is because when we exercise endorphins are released into our brain, thus reducing stress levels, anxiety, tension, and even depression. If you have ever been stressed to the max and decided to go on a heart-pumping run, you probably know what I mean.

Long-term effects of the primary stress hormone, cortisol, will eventually take a toll on your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, heart rate, heart, immune system, digestive system, and the list goes on. For centuries though, yogis and others have understood how proper breathing and physical activity can decrease our cortisol levels and create a calm for ourselves.

So next time you’re stressed, instead of picking up a bad habit such as binge eating, binging on TV, sleeping too much or too little, or binge drinking, pick up your favorite physical activity and let your body do the work and recalibrate naturally! If you’re going to be stressed you might as well get fit! 

Change – Jeremy Fouts

Change is constant

As we take the time to acknowledge the world around us, we can clearly see how things have been changing over the past few months. It seems as though 2020 has brought more change than many of us have experienced in a long time. Although these changes can seem intimidating, they will inevitably bring about good outcomes.

One thing I know to be a fact is that change is constant – it is something we can always count on. When faced with change we have two options; see the positive and roll with it or get caught up in the fear and negativity of it all. Oftentimes, I notice individuals tend to deal with the latter.

People tend to look over all the benefits change can bring about. The main benefit being personal growth. Anytime I have dealt with change, big or small, I always notice personal growth. However, the benefits don’t stop here – change also brings about new opportunities, new people, new environments, and fresh perspectives.

Many of us like to try and have everything figured out and be in perfect control of our lives, but the reality of it is, we can’t – no matter how hard we try. Change doesn’t care what our plans are or how in control we wish to be, it’s coming and it’s probably going to be beyond our control. Our mindset and how we view change will determine how we respond to it, and our response will be what makes or breaks us.

A quote I would like to leave you with is by Dan Millman. He said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” I want to encourage you all to be present, embrace change, and then build upon it.