I was feeling stagnant for a couple weeks last month, and I couldn’t figure out why.
I’m in a new country…
Meeting new people…
Having adventures…
Eating great food…
Working with new clients…
Exercising…
I felt like I should be feeling great, but something was missing.
One day I decided to go out for a run – something I don’t do that often – and I realized what was missing:
Vigor.
Vigor is what was missing.
Feeling the edges of my physical limits.
Right now I’m very focused on regulating my nervous system, recovering from hustle culture, and living a soft life while still doing work I love and making great money.
Rest is SO important.
I’m a huge fan of resting:
Spending full days doing almost nothing, often in nature, is absolutely a priority right now, because it really works – it really makes a difference.
Amidst recovering, resting, and leaning back, it’s easy to forget the importance of vigor.
As much as I love my walks, yoga, and Pilates – and as important as it is for me to do mostly low impact workouts right now – I needed more vigor sprinkled in.
Vigor can look different for everyone, but we all need it.
Humans have a huge physical capacity, and we need to feel that capacity.
Have you ever seen those videos of people miraculously finding the strength to lift a car off a trapped child or animal?
That’s an extreme example, but it beautifully illustrates how vast our limits are.
We need to push ourselves, at least from time to time.
To feel our limits.
Heavy breathing.
Pounding chest.
Muscles engaged.
Spirit stretched.
If you’re feeling stagnant…
… vigor may be your medicine.
At the same time, too much vigor can lead to stagnation.
It’s a delicate dance between the two.
When I was in high school, I ran track and cross country all year round:
Fall cross country, winter track, spring track, and summer training for cross country.
When I was 16, my trainer told me that if I kept up the same mileage, I would need a hip replacement by the time I was 30.
I also had amenorrhea and PCOS.
That was too much vigor.
When I was 17, I started practicing Bikram yoga, an intense practice done at 105 degrees.
I loved the classes, but afterwards, I was completely drained.
I would go to Trader Joe’s in my Honda CRV, get groceries, then only relax and eat for the rest of the day.
That was too much vigor.
In my 20s, when I lived in a 5th-floor walkup in NYC and ran around in high heels for hours on end, my body always hurt.
That was too much vigor.
Today, my body feels better than ever.
I never get shin splints, and rarely feel unhealthily sore.
I feel strong, mobile, and light.
My hormones are balanced.
I healed my PCOS naturally.
Today, I have the right amount of vigor in my life.
Sometimes I lose track of it, in my soft life pursuits, but I always return to it, especially in the form of running.
Running is my rock, and one of my favorite sources of vigor.
For a while, I didn’t really consider myself a runner anymore, because I didn’t go running that often.
Today, I remember that I am a runner, and I remember the importance of running – and the importance of vigor – in my life.
How can you tell if you’re getting too little or too much vigor in your life?
If you feel stagnant, sluggish, bored, or just blah, you might not be getting enough vigor.
If you feel extremely introverted and shy, you might not be getting enough vigor – getting your blood pumping can help you break through that (coming from an introvert).
If you feel anxious or depressed, you might not be getting enough vigor.
If you feel exhausted for the rest of the day after your workouts, to the point where you can barely do anything, you may be getting too much vigor.
If you feel endlessly ravenous, like your stomach is a bottomless pit, you might be getting too much vigor.
If your hormones are imbalanced, and you have irregular periods, jawline acne, and digestive issues, you might be getting too much vigor.
What’s your relationship with vigor?
What are your current sources of vigor?
If you feel like it’s missing from your life, how can you add in vigor while still honoring your holistic needs?
It’s such a delicate balance, and I’d love to hear your reflections.
Much love,
Lula