Press On

If you’ve ever had to force yourself to go to the gym or to exercise, then you understand the need to press on  and have a week of rest. The daily grind can become repetitive and monotonous, which can cause us to lose interest in exercising altogether. Recently I took a rest week myself, to give my muscles time to rest and rebuild, plus it keeps me from gym burnout. I decided to bike different trails during my rest week than what I typically take.

I choose not to be sedentary during my rest week, but I spend that time outdoors and get extra biking in–weather permitting that is. This year, I’ve added a mental/creative break as well. All of this helps me to press on.

To help refill my creative juices, I’ve hit pause on writing, making YouTube videos, and limiting time on social media. Instead, I choose to read or try to learn something new. These can be extra helpful, especially for someone with a brain injury. Below are some benefits for all of us of taking a break from social media:

• Better sleep
• Improved mental health
• Break addictive habits
• Encourage personal connections
• Feeling less lonely

Personally, recent news events in America and the church community have left me feeling depressed. As a Christian and a columnist, I need to do a lot of research for what I write, sometimes what I learn can become overwhelming, and I get discouraged.

After a week out of the gym and off social media, I feel recharged, hopeful, and ready to press on!

Pressing On

Most of us have experienced times when life was so difficult and painful, we have to decide whether to give up or press on.

After my accident, I had to learn to accept my new reality. To listen to the negative, very discouraging truths about my health and life from doctors and therapists. To be transparent, there were many days I would rather have died than continue on with my new reality.

To be honest, I still have days I think about giving up and leaving this cruel life. However, I choose to press on in life, trust God and His plans despite how painful the process may be.

The term “Press on” is a positive mindset defined as, “To continue moving forward in a steady way; determination.” Determination can be the antidote for depression. There are still days I am so depressed I don’t want to get out of bed.

Other days, my body and mind feel like they are working against me because of my disability. Perhaps that is why I haven’t felt like writing much this year. Writing can be hard work if you aren’t rested and healthy. The writing journey isn’t an easy path to follow, and publication doesn’t come to fruition for us all.

Publication Process

Lately, I have a wanted to give up the pursuit of traditional publication until I had a recent inspiring early-morning moment of encouragement. After spending time in prayer, I am convinced I need to press on in my publication journey, although I know it won’t be easy and may not go anywhere, I still have hope. I decided to do some research to help get more tools for my toolbox as I press on towards traditional publication.

Below are some tips from author Jerry B Jenkins on how to launch a writing career:

1. Don’t wait to call yourself a writer.
2. Don’t quit.
3. Write from your passions.
4. Work at it every day.
5. Create your writer’s website.
6. Look for opportunities.
7. Seek like-minded writers.
8. Network, network, network.
9. Focus
10.  Respect the profession.

I realize that writing full-time as a freelancer and pursuing publication are too much for me personally and professionally. This is why I have decided to make a vocational change.

Currently, I’m going through the process of becoming a certified personal trainer with an emphasis on nutrition, brain health, and adaptive fitness for seniors and disabled people.

I feel this will help me become a stronger health advocate and allow me to write on the side without becoming overwhelmed when writing. My plan isn’t to stop pursuing publication, but to take a different vocational path, which I hope will help me be a stronger writer. Help me to continue to press on.

Getting Stronger

After my accident, I began taking my health seriously, and I learned how to become stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually. Since I was partially paralyzed, I needed to focus on strength training to build muscle.

A fundamental part of building muscle is resistance and challenging our bodies, we cannot build muscle without resistance, and that resistance constantly needs to be increased or else our muscles will plateau.

Whether it is our own body weight, gym equipment, or free weights, we need to challenge our bodies if we want to get stronger. There is no easy way to get stronger in any area of life without difficulty, too many people miss this important part of exercise and focus on having fun instead of challenging themselves. Below are some of the benefits of challenging our bodies and our brains more:

• Getting stronger
• Staying healthy
• Have more energy
• Sleep better

Due to my training and healthy lifestyle, I am able to safely continue to enjoy exercising outside. My point is difficulties during exercise can make us give up or make us stronger, that is why we must continue to. . .

Press on!

Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at MartinThomasJohnson.com  and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.