Why You Need to Think About It! In a fast-changing world, being physically “fit” is no longer enough to flourish and thrive. To truly navigate the complexities and uncertainties of life today, we need to be fitfull—that is fully prepared, adaptable, and resilient. This concept goes beyond traditional fitness, encompassing not just physical health but also mental, emotional, social, and even spiritual wellbeing, ensuring we are equipped to flourish and thrive in all aspects of our lives.
We live in an era defined by rapid technological advancements, shifting cultural norms, and increasing demands on our time and energy. This fast-paced environment often leaves us feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and stuck in outdated patterns that no longer serve us. These feelings are not just personal struggles; they are symptoms of a deeper issue—an evolutionary mismatch between our internal capacity to adapt (biology) and the external challenges (culture) we face. Many of us try to cope with these pressures through reactive measures like managing stress or practising mindfulness. While these methods can provide temporary relief, they don’t address the root cause of why we feel out of sync with our lives. Traditional concepts like homeostasis—the body’s attempt to maintain a stable internal environment—or even allostasis—the process of achieving stability through change—focus on internal regulation. However, they fall short when it comes to aligning our health with the broader context of our lives. This is where the concept of fitfull comes in. Being fitfull goes beyond maintaining physical fitness or adapting to avoid disruption. It’s about creating a positive balance between our biological needs and the cultural demands placed on us—a dynamic state I’ve coined as eustasis. Eustasis represents the ideal harmony between our internal health and external environment, enabling us not just to survive but to truly flourish and thrive. Achieving eustasis requires more than simply reacting to life's challenges; it demands a proactive approach to health and wellbeing. It’s about understanding what you want to achieve and building a personal framework that aligns with those aspirations. Just as a company would create a strategic plan to navigate future uncertainties, we too need a plan—a “DNA for the future”—that guides our decisions and actions. This personalised blueprint helps us stay focused on what truly matters, ensuring that our efforts are directed towards long-term resilience and growth. Being fitfull means adopting a mindset that is ready for the future, whatever it may hold. It’s about cultivating the ability to pivot and adapt when circumstances change, to recover quickly from setbacks, and to maintain a sense of purpose and direction. It’s not just about physical health, but also about emotional, psychological, social and even spiritual alignment. When you are fitfull, you’re not merely responding to life’s demands—you are shaping them, using your inner strength and clarity to create a life that is balanced and fulfilling. So, being fitfull is more than just a way to adapt and manage stress; it provides a pathway to resilience, adaptability, and purposeful growth in all aspects of life. It goes well beyond concepts of work-life balance, embracing healthgevity—the pursuit of long-term health and wellbeing that extends beyond physical fitness to encompass all areas of life. If you find yourself feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or anxious about the future, it’s time to ask: Why, and how can I become fitfull? What is needed to be fitfull is a clear framework that does not alter—a “DNA” for aligning your health, wellbeing, and personal and professional growth that can be expressed in different ways. This framework, or blueprint, makes the future less unpredictable, providing a stable foundation upon which you can build and grow. Practically, you start by writing down your current situation and then identifying what you want to achieve. You also need to define what health means to you, how you want to feel (health), and your core values and long-term aspirations (wellbeing). Once you have these, consider whether this vision would still resonate with you 20, 100, or even 1,000 years from now. They must be unwavering principles for the rest of your life—no matter how long it may be—to serve as the strands of your “DNA for the future.” Next, think about the bonds—your potential. This represents what you are inherently born with and what you can develop over time. The strands of “health” and “wellbeing” are like the two vertical rails of a ladder, supporting the bonds of “potential,” which act as the steps you climb toward your future. Once you have defined your personal framework, use it to envision a preferred future—a future you want to wake up to, one that can guide you like the North Star. The next step is to commit to striving for eustasis by evolving with and on purpose and seeking a balance between your internal needs and external demands. This goes beyond merely managing stress; it’s about aligning your lifestyle, environment, and personal values in a way that supports your overall wellbeing while reducing your biological footprint. Finally, remember that being fitfull is not a one-time achievement but an ongoing process. It’s about preparing today for the uncertainties of tomorrow, building a foundation that enables you to thrive no matter what the future holds. So, ask yourself: Am I fitfull? If not, what steps can you take to become more fitfull and ready for the future? Embracing a fitfull mindset means moving beyond the struggle for survival to actively cultivating healthgevity. It’s about proactively futurizing yourself, your health, and your wellbeing so you can flourish and thrive, no matter how the future unfolds. This involves adopting a mindset and lifestyle where you recognise your power to shape your own narrative, to be the architect of your future, and to create a life that is not just reactive but genuinely proactive. However, never forget that the journey towards being fitfull is a step only you can take, but it is not just about you. You are not alone. Being fitfull requires the support and connection of others, just as they need you. So becoming fitfull is also about recognising and embracing your role within a greater whole—a society. Your choices, decisions, and actions not only impact your own health and wellbeing but also influence those around you, including future generations. Are you fitfull for y'our (your and our) future? Are you ready to evolve on purpose?
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Tom Meyers
I'm an osteopath, body-centred stress coach, wellbeing futurist, space enthusiast, TEDx organiser and author of “Futurize Yourself” and “The Futures Effect”. ArchivesCategories |