Do You Have a Plan For a Better Future? The ASEP Leaders Do! Journal of Professional Exercise Physiology ISSN 1550-963X Vol 9 No 1 January 2011 An Exercise Physiologist s Vision Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, MAM, MBA Board Certified Exercise Physiologist Professor, Department of Exercise Physiology The College of St. Scholastica Duluth, MN 55811 You can t go somewhere without leaving somewhere. -- Marla Salmon A VISION COMES BY many names and definitions. A vision can get to you, and some even pull you up from the floor. More than a decade ago I had such a vision. I believe it is a function of the heart. Disappointment and suffering aren t altogether gone, but in the midst of what I know is that students now have a choice. They can stay where they are, or they can leave and take up the challenges of something new. Without today s inspiration of ASEP members and the energy of an allpowerful vision of the future, the transformation from the towering mess of student-failed colleagues would be even harder. The full essence of which escapes me, except to argue for the increased self-control that is needed to sustain the defeat of discouragement and disillusionment when they come face to face with the experience of failure when a college degree does not mean a credible job. Seeing beyond the intentions of others requires a waste of my time, and I no longer want to be a part of the process. And yet, failing to see the unseen has 1
determined the fate of many a person. Holding that thought, I find myself saying, But, Tommy, destiny has changed in minutes if not seconds while people (mostly friends) looked on without a caring hand. It begs the question, Where is a Buddhist monastery when you need one? Our lives fail to reflect the true meaning of what people think. And yet, it is true that our academic exercise physiology colleagues have sight but are without a vision. The tragic thing is that many friends are little more than little children. If only their inner strengths were to actually control their inner insecurities. What is your vision? What have you always wanted to do? What is your heart s desire? What is your dream? How will you achieve it? Will you do it the right way or the wrong way? My vision as an exercise physiologist is consistent with no longer being blind to what has shaped me. I believe it is a gift. The same is true of this electronic journal. As Miss Keller said, What s worse than being blind is having sight without vision. To paraphrase the Bible, faith is the substance of things you hope to accomplish. Faith is the evidence of things you can see even when others cannot. This is the reality of the JPEP journal and the reason why the American Society of Exercise Physiologists is linked to the exercise physiologist s destiny. It is about dreaming the impossible. It is about believing in the impossible and, then, giving up everything to fulfill one s purpose in life. The key to seeing the future is looking for it, believing in something that has purpose and meaning to it. It is all about working and if necessary, giving up one s life as he/she knew it to fulfill the vision. Do you have a vision? Do you know why you exist? Have you thought about it? Why are you in exercise physiology? Do you sense something special about your work? You should have answers to these questions Life is interesting. More often than not, it is one of experiencing painful emotional and financial twists and turns created by visionless people. They are poor in spirit, and they have little understanding of meaning and, therefore, in the long run they are without hope. They are the real losers. No matter what they do, 2
that is if they were to do anything, without the right dream or vision, they will forever live an unfulfilled life. Most will not even realize it. You have dig deep to find the gold that is in exercise physiology and its faculty. That digging has already begun; it is ASEP. It is my life, and it is the life of others. There isn t any doubt in my mind that I was born to participate in the professionalism of exercise physiology. That is my exercise physiology vision. It may also be a very powerful reason for living, aside from the obvious. It seems that I was born to reach this point of writing about ASEP and exercise physiology. I am compelled to stay the course as a healthcare professional and to draw out the leadership in others who are willing to fight the unforgettable good fight for students all across the United States. This cause is without question a worthy thing to do, and I thank God for my faith, strength, determination, and energy. As Myles Munroe said, Faith is seeing the future in the present. When you have faith, you can see things you hope to have and achieve. Will such thinking upset some people? Of course, it is rather clear that it has already done so. But, change always upsets people who lack the moral courage to stay the fight or who are content to be stagnant. It is really very sad to know that some colleagues cannot embrace the vision of change with the same enthusiasm and strength as the great warriors of the past. Instead of staying strong and doing the impossible on behalf of the students of exercise physiology, they are possessed by thinking that builds them up rather than others. One way to discern this truth is to read their eyes. Proverbs 29:18 says, Where there is no vision, the people perish. Stated somewhat differently, as Myles Munroe [1] has done, When there is no vision, the people throw off self-control. Visionless people should ask the questions: What am I using my energies on? Is it worth it? Where am I investing my resources? Am I supporting certifications that are meaningless? What speakers am I listening to, and why? Are they helping or hurting the students of exercise physiology? What research am I doing? Is it helping or hindering what needs to be done to fulfill the vision of something better for everyone close to exercise 3
physiology? What are you risking? Have you abused circumstances and events? Have you been pressured to think differently from what otherwise was fulfilling? Paul said we should discipline our thoughts to think about what will build us up: Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things (Philippians 4:8). Think about it. As an exercise physiologist, are you carrying on a great project? Are you making your life count? Are your associations taking away from what you could be? I heard it said more than once that it is your environment that determines your mindset. Soloman said it this way, He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm (Proverbs 13:20). I like the way Myles Munroe [1] put it, If you want to be a success, don t keep company with those who aren t going anywhere in life. This is a powerful statement. We see people of all ages sacrificing their dreams of doing the right thing for the right reason because they are fearful of conflict. No one should be afraid to disassociate from those who are not right for them. After all, it is always better to spend time with people of vision. There is no growth without a vision. People who are not working for something better than the old dogma of the past are just wasting their time. So, I have learned or should I say, I am learning to deal with the resistance that comes with change. I know that change is not easy, especially for those aren t able to stand up in the face of their own personal fears. Most people are afraid. That is why they create so much stress and disappointments for others. They think it is as simple as controlling those with a vision by saying, You can t do that. You don t have enough people to help you. You don t have the respect of others. Or, to the point in regards to ASEP, It is too small. No one is supporting it. You need to stop doing what you are doing. It will never make it. The only logical answer to such discouraging comments is to be strong and courageous, regardless of the challenges and pressures. There will always be opposition and insults. As Myles Munroe [1] said, Destiny demands diligence. It means being willing to pay to the price by 4
staying in the fight. It is all about persistence and accepting the cost. People with a vision are persistent in their actions, and they are willing to be tested for their authenticity. That is why they insist on going after what they started. They do not give in to the resistance, bullying, and enemies of the land. They never take no for an answer and, therefore, they don t stop until they are finished. In closing, the Exercise Physiologist s Vision to which I support is the ASEP s official belief and expectation for the future of the profession of exercise physiology [2]. Exercise as medicine will be provided by board certified exercise physiologists, recognized by consumers and other professionals as the healthcare practitioners of choice to whom consumers will have direct access to the evidence-based identification of physiological mechanisms underlying physical fitness, the comprehensive delivery of treatment services concerned with the prevention, improvement, and maintenance of health and wellness, and the rehabilitation of heart disease and other chronic diseases and/or disabilities, and the professional guidance and counsel of athletes and others interested in athletics, sports training, and human adaptability. References 1. Munroe, M. (2003). The Principles and Power of Vision: Keys to Achieving Personal and Corporate Destiny. New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House. 2. American Society of Exercise Physiologists. (2011). ASEP Home Page. [Online]. http://www.asep.org/ 5
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