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CHAPTER FIVE

THE TURNING POINT

I am excessively into self-help, self-improvement, and wellness literature. I honestly believe in
the power of the mind, and the importance of creating environments, or exposing myself to
environments conducive to maximizing my potential to be the best version of myself mentally,
emotionally, and physically. Anytime I come across an article, hear a radio segment, or participate in
a conversation in which some wellness and self-improvement subject matters are discussed, I make
mental notes of it, look up the references from which the topic is derived and store it in my phone.

Several years before that moment in my
car outside my job where I experienced my
turning point, I came across a segment on a radio
station that talked about the scientific benefits of
breathing and the impact it has on the body,
mind, spirit, and emotional disposition of a
person. I downloaded the app for that radio
station, located the segment and saved it on my
phone. The article came to mind that day, so I
listened to it again. It was only about five minutes
long. Later that day, when I got home, I looked
up some peer-reviewed articles the segment was
based on and discovered other gems connected
to the benefits of breathing and breathing
exercises.

I learned of the existence of a reciprocal
relationship between emotional intelligence and
physical activity. Emotional Intelligence (EI) is
partly defined or characterized by the ability to recognize different emotions, label them appropriately,
and use them to guide thinking and behavior. EI dictates resilience and is essential for overall success
in any endeavor. Physical fitness plays a vital role in improving EI, and a high level of EI can positively
impact achieving one's health and fitness goals. EI and physical fitness go together.

Our bodies are complex, and researchers are increasingly finding the mind-body connection
to be paramount due to the undeniable affect our thoughts and feelings have on our heart and brain.
For example, if your heart is beating too fast because of excessive stress (either from exercise or
emotional factors), certain chemicals are released that, over time, not only damage the heart but
negatively impact parts of the brain involved in regulating our emotions and thinking. This is often
seen in individuals suffering from Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome. This syndrome is characterized by the

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