Warrior Fit Being Fit Isn't Just Physical: A Journey of Embracing Change, Empowering Your Whole Being, and Discovering the Warrior Within

By J.L.H. Smith

It is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.

-- Chinese proverb

A

• Language: English
• Publisher: Author Academy Elite
• Release date: Sep 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9798885831970

Book preview

Endorsements

"Few of us live an uncomplicated life; most of us face all sorts of challenges as we navigate the twists and turns of adulthood and aging.

Warrior Fit is a case study showcasing the genuine highs and lows of life and relationships, as well as a handbook for how we can live stronger, better, healthier lives.

Yes, there will always be new challenges, and the core of this book is preparing you mentally and physically for not only managing those challenges but also going above and beyond to achieve success in whatever ways you (healthily) define it.

Jennifer’s writing is sometimes raw and powerful and other times beautiful and sublime. For me, the strength of this book is the author’s authentic voice, how she has lived her life, and her advice on how you can live stronger in your life.

If you are struggling in life, this book may be the perfect companion to guide you to a better, more peaceful existence."

—Randall Hansen, Ph.D.,

Empowering Educator, CEO of EmpoweringSites.com

Warrior Fit brings an interesting perspective to fitness and what it means on a personal level. Everyone has their battles, and the questions asked in this book internally drive you to succeed through the external. Let this book help guide you to find your inner warrior and bring out the fit in you.

—Andrew DiDonato, BS Exercise Science,

MS Applied Clinical Nutrition,

Wellness and Fitness Coach

Warrior Fit is accessible and easy to follow for everyday life. From fitness to spiritual practice, Warrior Fit breaks down how to improve your life. Jennifer brings some inner peace to a crazy world and the inspiration to face it.

—Heather Jones

If you want practical ideas to enhance your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being, this book is for you. Warrior Fit is a compelling blend of stories, insights, and lessons-learned to help you cultivate a healthy lifestyle, feel fulfilled, and effectively overcome adversity. Jennifer offers hope in her writing style and successfully reminds us of the power of making progress.

—Karen Doll, Psy.D., L.P.,

International Best-Selling Author

Warrior Fit

Being Fit Isn’t Just Physical

A journey of embracing change, empowering your whole being, and discovering the warrior within.

J.L.H. Smith

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WARRIOR FIT: BEING FIT IS NOT JUST PHYSICAL

© 2022 J.L.H. Smith

jlhsmith.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Published by Author Academy Elite

PO Box 43, Powell, Ohio

www.AuthorAcademyElite.com

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023905074

Paperback: ISBN 979-8-88583-195-6

Hardback: ISBN 979-8-88583-196-3

E-book: ISBN 979-8-88583-197-0

This book has been written for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as medical advice, a substitute thereof, or a guarantee of outcome and should not be construed as such. It is always recommended to consult your healthcare provider for guidance on any aspect of medical treatment and care. Any use of the information in this book is based on the reader’s judgment and is the reader’s sole responsibility.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Contents

Acknowledgments

A Note to the Reader

Part I: The Art of Engaging with Change

Chapter 1 Oh, Hello Change

Chapter 2 What Is Change?

Chapter 3 Who Am I?

Part II: The Road to Warrior Fit

Chapter 4 Being Fit Isn’t Just Physical

Chapter 5 Our Physical Being

Chapter 6 Our Emotional Being

Chapter 7 Our Mental Being

Chapter 8 Our Spiritual Being

Part III: Designing Your Map to Warrior Fit

and the Journey out of the Rabbit Hole

Chapter 9 The Road Already Traveled

Chapter 10 Your Starting Point

Chapter 11 The Map of Your Adventure

Chapter 12 Press Go

Notes

About the Author

Acknowledgments

I would first like to thank my family. To my husband, William, thank you for standing by my side and giving me the time to learn and grow to become the person I am meant to be. To my daughter, Annie, I appreciate you not only for inspiring me to write but also for physically making me sit my butt down in a seat and put my fingers on the keyboard. Thanks to my son, Tim. Simultaneously, we handled our life’s challenges, and you helped me with content—unknowingly. And lastly, my son, Cody, for making me stronger than I ever thought I could be and adding much-needed humor over the past few years. I love you all so very much.

I would also like to thank Heather Jones and Pam Lane for being front-row cheerleaders—giving me help, support, and suggestions through this process. Kris Tuftedal, I really appreciate your support and interest. Thank you for giving me a guy’s perspective.

And finally, Chris Schindler and Kelly Majdan. Thank you for the continuous e-mails, phone calls, and endless reads. You are inspirations.

A Note to the Reader

Imagine a square board comprised of one hundred smaller squares in ten rows and ten columns. Starting on square one, your goal is to reach the one hundredth. Spin the spinner and move that number of boxes. Sometimes you move up a ladder moving closer to the win, and other times, you fall down a chute, losing ground. Have you ever felt like your life was a game of Chutes and Ladders?

You walk along, moving four steps forward, and everything is good. On your next turn, you advance another two rungs, and wow, you get a promotion or raise, finish that book, hit a workout goal, or lose a few pounds. Climbing the ladder one, two, or five rungs, you feel good and are eating well. You can’t help singing and dancing or whatever makes your spirit soar. In fact, you feel so great that you decide to enhance your life by meditating, learning another language, or taking up painting. The spinner keeps moving you toward the top. Life is good.

On the next life turn, you spin a three. Suddenly, you’re falling down a chute, hands in the air, screaming, hair flying in the wind. What just happened? Everything was fine. Maybe you gained weight, got in an argument, were in a car accident, or lost your job. What seems trivial to some will create a much larger impact on others.

Since everybody is different, each person’s chutes and ladders hold their own magnitude, incomparable to others. Two people may encounter the same or similar events, but their unique life exposures will give them differing experiences and frames of mind. One person may have gone down a chute of one rung, while somebody else may have fallen four. If you were in a car accident, ended a long relationship, or lost your job or someone close to you, it might have turned your world upside down and sent you all the way back to the starting line.

Then, when it’s your turn to advance again, you can’t. You feel paralyzed, afraid, and too depressed to move. You are stuck. Someone switched the game and changed the rules. You have graduated from a simple board game to a TV show. Your life has become an episode of Survivor.

You didn’t ask for this promotion. In this instant, your perspective on reality may or may not be even remotely close to the truth. Your mind races, and you have conversations in your head with yourself and two to five other people. Emotionally drained, physically tired, mentally lost, and spiritually empty, how do you move up the ladder again? Where do you find the strength to take the first step?

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Note to self and everyone else out there: The only people who don’t have problems are in a cemetery.

—Norman Vincent Peale

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Take a moment and breathe deeply. Close your eyes and imagine your most calm, peaceful, happy, or uplifting place. What does it look like? What gives you power? Is it your favorite song, a quote, prayer, or poem? What feeds your spirit and makes you stronger? What helps you think or brings you joy?

Your human body is both mental and physical. At the same time, you are a spiritual and emotional being. Feeding, exercising, and detoxing these four aspects of your body and being can help you not only survive the game we call life but allow you to live happier and stronger in our ever-changing world.

In addition, I believe we all have a purpose. Unfortunately, many people don’t know their purpose and never strive to find out. Some have desires and dreams. They want change in their current circumstances but use those same circumstances as excuses not to move forward. I know because I was one of those people. And I knew I had a purpose; I heard mentors say it at many workshops. However, my cup was empty. I felt stuck—as if no one could hear me.

Purpose doesn’t have to be big and world changing. But it must be you and what you believe in. You may not know your purpose, but by living your passion and what you believe in, it may find you. You get to write your story.

I decided to find my purpose, choose my dream, climb the ladder, and decorate my life. My book, my purpose, is to help others to climb their ladder and inspire them to find progress, purpose, balance, strength, happiness, and peace. Everyone’s path is unique, and the possibilities are endless.

If you want inspiration and motivation—if you want to be fit for your journey over the river and through the woods, up the mountains, into the valleys, and even on a roller-coaster ride or two, this book can help you navigate your adventure.

Life is full of change, challenges, and rough terrain. In the end, we all have the same destination. I hope your journey is long and full of ladders and light.

Jennifer

Part I

The Art of Engaging with Change

Change

The only thing that is permanent is change.

Therefore, nothing ever stays the same—

Not state of mind, emotions, or love,

Not anything to be thought of.

It’s sad to see some things go.

Will they come again; we just don’t know.

The only thing that is clear is change.

The only thing that occurs continuously, again and again.

The only thing without an end.

Change.

—J.L.H. Smith, 1988

Chapter 1

Oh, Hello Change

The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings.

—Kakuzo Okakura, The Book of Tea

I’ve known my friend Ember for a very long time. We’ve had many experiences together and endless conversations over coffee and wine. Recently, Ember called very upset. She had been reflecting on the relationship she used to have with her sister. Life events and family turmoil drastically changed their relationship, and now and then, Ember’s emotions caught up with her. This was one of those days.

You see, Ember and her sister talked almost every day, sometimes more than once. They chatted about everything and nothing. With ten years between them (Ember is older, though she hates to admit it), they shared life