Philosophical Fitness
I was unexpectedly motivated this week by Daniel Nettle’s book, Personality. Psychology in general has never excited me and I negatively anticipated an Enneagram-style survey of some kind that was going to inaccurately “define me,” or accurately define me but I may disagree. I have completed various assessments in the past but find they tend to describe me more on that day than overall. My personality tends to change depending on the need, opportunity, or even the mood I am in. Perhaps I need more self-awareness and I am simply out of tune with my own self? I am honestly not sure. What I do know now, with some help from Daniel Nettle, is that I have a lot of good and bad characteristics, thoughts, and feelings that affect my patterns and behavior, make me unique, and shape my personality.[1] What I found most interesting and inspiring from this book is, why this happens and how can I use this to optimize the best me? In other words, if I tend to entertain different personalities based on the environment I am in, how can I maximize the “best me” consistently, and what led to that outcome?
Assessing Self-awareness
I spent a lot of time in prayer this week. I changed the direction of this blog at least three times, and I have over 3000 words in the lower part of this document that will probably never be used anywhere. It was not a waste though. I realized this morning that Nettle’s book, Personality, has genuinely helped me become more self-aware, and writing for over a week about it was therapeutic and awakening. It was a surreal experience for me because I do not have a lot of coaching experience, yet I felt like I was coaching myself all week with the help of the Holy Spirit. It felt like I was on the couch of a psychiatrist or in Tom Comacho’s office talking through my own solution why he listens and pries deeper with simple questions that help me lead to my own solution; that I may have subconsciously known all along…
- With respect to word counts, I will try and briefly summarize the key points of my own self-assessment, inspired by Personality, by Daniel Nettle.
What is the best me?
I have conducted many fitness and medical assessments on individuals in the past. I may use a 3D Body Scan, a questionnaire, and a physical evaluation of some kind, but the data will always define the past. In my own assessment this week, I took a different approach and spent less time focusing on my past and more attention on the future, or the “best me.” I concluded after many “sessions” that if we as Christians are to die to ourselves and rise up in Jesus (Luke 9:23, Galatians 2:20, 2 Cor 5:17), the “best me” should look a lot like Jesus.
My Jesus Fit (best me) Evaluation
Determine Goal:
To become Jesus Fit. To experience the fullness of God to the best of my capabilities and be a servant to His needs and desires for my life and those I influence.
Biblical Principle:
“But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”[2]
Treatment:
Repent and submit to follow (disciple).
Biblical Principle:
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.[3]
Define Disciple:
“Discipleship means ‘’discipline!’’[4] – C.S. Lewis
disciple (n.) – Dicionary.com; a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another; follower:[5]
Biblical Principle:
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.[6]
Treatment:
Become mentally, physically, and spiritually fit (mind, body, soul) to maximize the efforts of the protocol.
Hypothesis:
The combination of fitness levels determines one’s Jesus Fitness.
Biblical Principle:
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.[7]
Define Fitness:
When I reflect on the word fitness, I immediately associate it with physical exercise. I have a passion for the industry so it is natural for me to amalgamate physicality with the word. However, I believe “fitness” is truly an open expression that connects many areas of our personality, character, and behaviors. It is multi-dimensional and can be used to illustrate countless metrics of performance, such as mental, intellectual, social, and emotional. For example, many would consider someone who is active, healthy, and exercises regularly as, “physically fit.” We may also assume individuals who practice regular spiritual acts such as worship, prayer, and service to be “spiritually fit.” These endless characteristics make each category of fitness distinct; however, there is one quality in all forms of fitness that is inherently constant… discipline.
Determination:
If I am to be Jesus Fit, I need to disciple. If discipleship is discipline, and discipline is the distinct common denominator that links all forms of fitness, discipleship is disciplined fitness.
Conclusion:
The best me is when I am Jesus Fit. When I am connected to the Spirit and staying in tune with his song and not mine through faith and discipline. There are many steps that I hope to improve on but the Goal is clear and I have a better understanding of my own behaviors and motivations for activity and reward. I need to keep my Jesus Fitness elevated and by doing so, I will have elevated behaviors and fitness levels in many areas of life; regardless of which of the big five personality types is tempted to come out that day.
[1] Nettle, Daniel, Personality
[2] 1 Cor 9:27, ESV.
[3] Mat 38:19, ESV.
[4] https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/the-discipline-of-discipleship/
[5] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/disciple
[6] Mat 4:19, ESV.
[7] 1 Thessalonians 5:23, ESV.
About the Author
Michael O'Neill
Director of Operations / Executive Pastor at Kinergy, Inc. Federal 501c3 Non-Profit Organization. An experienced entrepreneur, leader, father, wellness professional, and owner of a multi-location medical practice with my wife, Nicole O'Neill, MD.14 responses to “Philosophical Fitness”
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Michael,
Great post, this was a tough one for me as well. Well done. Bless you.
Thanks, Greg. Psychology isn’t my favorite but I did enjoy this book. I like how the books have given us a nice variety of perspectives on many disciplines. It helps become better leaders and understand the greatness of God.
Michael,
Jesus fit!
I like your closing remarks:
“I need to keep my Jesus Fitness elevated and by doing so, I will have elevated behaviors and fitness levels in many areas of life; regardless of which of the big five personality types is tempted to come out that day.”
Please continue to challenge me and our cohort in this area!
Thank you! It’s such a big part of my walk of faith. Once I made the connection of our bodies and His dwelling place, it was like a threshold concept. I can’t unlearn or not see it any other way ever again. My mental, physical, and spiritual fitness are linked forever.
Michael, I love your connection to fitness! Jesus Fit makes so much sense. I especially like your focus on being the best version of yourself now and into the future. What are your ideas of keeping Jesus Fitness always before you? You’ve inspired me and I’m going to remember this concept in the way you’ve presented it. Will it be part of your NPO?
Thanks, Jenny. Yes, it is part of my NPO. The program I am building uses wellness to find Jesus and become the best leader of our lives by becoming the best follower of Jesus. I use fitness as the platform to educate in this area and start to feel tangible results. My goal is that the eternal spiritual results will grow and continue to become the priority.
Michael,
This was fabulous! I loved how you connected it to fitness! Is it part of your NPO and your project? Well done as always!
Thanks, Tonette. Yes, it is part of my NPO. The program I am building, 40-Day Fit uses wellness to find Jesus and become the best leader of our lives by becoming the best follower of Jesus. I use fitness as the platform to educate in this area and start to feel tangible results. My goal is that the eternal spiritual results will grow and continue to become the priority.
I want to be Jesus Fit! What a cool post!
What is the hardest part for you?
Thanks, Alana. Time management is the hardest part for me and was a big part of my LCP goals. I’ve tried different methods but the best approach for me is to make sure I exercise regularly. It is an act of worship for me and keeps me grounded and doesn’t allow me to stray. When I am faced with time crunches and have to sacrifice my workouts, I tend to make additional bad choices.
Michael, Your look at this from a very holistic approach is so important. I think sometimes we separate so much of who are are in to different buckets that we miss how fulfilled and efficient we could be if we realized that everything is connected. Faith and fitness, is all matters.
Thanks, Sara. I agree. We only get one life and one chance. And it is my goal to maximize it and fitness really helps me on countless levels. Once I committed to fitness being a spiritual act of discipline, I can never go back. It is a threshold concept for me that will forever be part of my lifestyle and helps me grow in my faith more than physical fitness.
Michael, great post. I love you concept of Jesus Fit. I think in learning more about what makes up our personality, we can discover how to be more like Jesus. I am reminded of the book “Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership: How to Become an Effective Leader by Confronting Potential Failures” by Gary L. McIntosh and Samuel D. Rima. In this book, they talk about how different aspects of leadership have both positive attributes and potential downfalls. I wonder how understanding personality can help us overcome the potential downfalls of Jesus and be more Jesus Fit.
Thank you, Becca! I am glad you enjoyed the Jesus Fit model. I will look up these books. I am grateful for the references.