Do you find it distressing and humiliating to do workouts that conflict with your natural skill set? This is because your brain perceives activities that aren’t your forte as a threat to your self-image

If you find it distressing and humiliating to do workouts that conflict with your natural skill set, chances are those feelings come up in other areas of your life too, causing you to miss out.

Your brain perceives activities that aren’t your forte as a threat to your self-image.

Exercise can double as a rehearsal space for working through those tough emotions.

Hard exercise can pump up your heart rate, giving your body practice with the physiological effects of stress.

Research suggests that leisure activities you enjoy and are mentally engaging—check and check—reduce stress levels, improve mood, and lower heart rate.

Go with workouts you’re intrinsically motivated to engage in but have no interest in mastering.