Your Body Is Your First Line of Defense

By Jackie Leon

The Stoic philosopher Seneca wrote that difficulties strengthen the mind as labor strengthens the body. He was right, but I'd take it further: you need a strong body to support a strong mind when life delivers its inevitable blows.

Early 2023, everything collapsed at once. We lost our business. Lost our house. My ex-partner fell into critical depression. And I had two young daughters depending on me to hold it all together.

Bruce Feiler's research shows most people face three to five major lifequakes in their lifetime, each lasting an average of five years. I've been through more than a dozen. These seismic events don't arrive on schedule. They don't wait for you to be ready. They just come. And when they do, your body becomes your first line of defense for the long haul ahead.

Here's what I've learned: physical strength isn't vanity or luxury. It's preparation. When stress floods your system, your body either has the capacity to cope or it doesn't. Studies demonstrate that physical fitness provides stress-buffering effects, helping us manage chronic stress with greater resilience. The science is clear: consistent physical activity is linked to heightened resilience to stress in both mental and physical aspects.

I prioritize physical strength because I can feel how it supports my mental strength. When everything around me was crumbling, my body carried me. Not metaphorically, literally. The physiological capacity I'd built through consistent movement gave me the stamina to navigate sleepless nights, endless decisions, and emotional weight that would have crushed an unprepared nervous system.

You cannot control when your lifequake will arrive. But you can control how prepared you are to withstand it. Rest matters. Sleep matters. And right behind them: movement, strength, resilience built deliberately before you need it.

This isn't about perfection or athleticism. It's about building a body that will be there for you when you need it most. Because you will need it. The question is whether it will be ready.

For reflection: What is your body's capacity to carry you through stress right now? If your lifequake arrived tomorrow, would your physical foundation support you or fail you?