Welcome again to the LightEdu series ☀️

This week we will explore the risks of relying on quick fixes like marijuana for stress and pain relief and we will discover how how natural alternatives such as sunlight and exercise can boost your mood, reduce pain, and enhance your overall well-being sustainably with no side effects.

The Tragedy of Relying on Quick Fixes

In our fast-paced world, many people are turning to quick fixes such as marijuana to relieve pain, reduce stress and anxiety, and enhance their mood. 

This may include you. It definitely included me a few years ago when I felt stuck in a deep cycle of pain and suffering. 

I felt like a plant yearning for water and nourishment. My leaves wilted, loosing their vibrant color and everything around me felt deeply dry and crumbly. 

For the most part, I was feeling lifeless and deeply stressed, frozen by my countless doubts, uncertainties and fears. 

While a plant would need water when in this state, I profoundly needed ‘’Life’’. 

Smoking Cannabis appeared to be like my water in those moments. I was under the impression that it helped me set aside the great load  of pain, worry, anxiety and fear. During that time, I didn't even acknowledge this simple truth. All I knew is that ‘’ I felt better and I wanted more’’

In those few hours of relief, I felt lighter, more creative, more attuned to the subtleties of life. Those moments gave me deep hope that there is something better I could move towards. 

Nevertheless, when the effect faded away, I came back to the same state of hopeless thirstiness, needing more Cannabis. 

Also, the states of creativity and relief I felt when smoking was never lasting. It always left me aloof from myself.I woke up wondering where my powerful self had disappeared to! This fast “disappearance” felt heart-breaking.

I felt like I was being constantly pulled away from the solution and back again into the problem after truly feeling deep reassurance that I had figured it out and that it would be fine from that moment on.

The Illusion of Relief

In my humble opinion, relying on marijuana for stress and anxiety relief creates a destructive cycle where the short-lived benefits hide the underlying deep issues without addressing them. 

It's like watering a plant with polluted water. While it may seem to help initially, it ultimately causes more harm. The temporary relief leads to disillusionment and to a greater sense of dependence, a continuous need for more.

In those moments of temporary relief, when the cannabinoids reduce our pain and anxiety, we instantly feel powerful and capable. This is because this state of omnipotence is our divine inheritance. We were born with it. It has always been there and it will always be there.

The problem is that our life’s events and accumulated pain disconnect us from that place. We become a body instead of a whole mind. When we think we are our bodies, we confuse our true selves with the pain that the body is experiencing. We become alienated from our source and turn into a thirsty plant, craving life.

While cannabis lessens those unpleasant sensations and may help us connect with our true divine self, this connection is temporary and springs us back to more pain and suffering.

Overcoming pain and suffering must be endogenously learned. We need to earn it and become the master of our bodies instead of allowing our senses to enslave and control us. Gladly, nature empowers us with simple and effective ways to access the benefits we are seeking from cannabis in a more sustainable and long-lasting manner.

Marijuana, although effective for some, can lead to unwanted side effects such as numbness, overeating, brain fog and disorientation. These side effects can impact your daily life, making you feel disconnected and unproductive.

Natural Alternatives: Sunlight and Exercise

What if you could harness the power of nature to achieve the same benefits? 

Sunlight and exercise are two powerful tools that can naturally increase cannabinoids in your body, providing pain relief, reducing stress, and boosting your mood.

How Exercise Elevates Your Mood

When you exercise, your body stimulates the endocannabinoid system, producing cannabinoids that elevate your mood and reduce pain. This phenomenon, often referred to as the "runner's high,", a state of euphoria and eudaimonia experienced after intense physical activity. Exercising on a regular basis not only enhances your physical health but also elevates your mental well-being.

The Role of Sunlight in Enhancing Well-being

Exposure to sunlight, specifically UV light on the skin, boosts the production of cannabinoids in your skin, leading to feelings of euphoria and well-being. Spending time outdoors, soaking in natural light, can help you synchronize with nature’s rhythm, sparking your inner light and making you vibrant and healthy.

Integrating Sunlight and Exercise into Your Daily Routine

Combining regular exercise with sunlight exposure and incorporating them into your daily routine will naturally enhance your mood, relieve stress, and manage pain without the negative effects of marijuana. 

Exercising outside is a powerful way to elevate every aspect of your health. Besides the great benefits of stimulating your endocannabinoid system, you will avoid being under junk blue light, which can increase inflammation, stress levels, and dehydrate your fascia.

If you really need to exercise indoors, make sure to wear the VivaRays daytime harmonizing glasses during the day and switch to your evening lenses if you are exercising later in the day. 

The timing of your exercise matters; it’s always best to exercise when the sun is out, aligning with your natural circadian rhythm. Exercising in the evening under artificial lights is even worse than exercising indoors during the day because it can disturb your circadian clock, disrupt your hormones, suppress your dopamine, and lead to feelings of demotivation and dissatisfaction the following day.

The ideal scenario is exercising outdoors. Avoid wearing sunglasses. In case you wear prescription glasses, check out our UV transmitter lenses, which allows 50% of healthy UV eyes.

The second best option is exercising indoors while wearing the VivaRays daytime circadian light harmonizing glasses.

The third, less ideal scenario is exercising later in the evening, which can be mitigated by wearing the VivaRays evening lenses. The least ideal scenario, which I invite you to let go of, is not exercising at all, staying at home, and smoking cannabis.

Some ideas you can implement today

• Go for a jog in the park 🌳

• Take a walk during your lunch break 🚶🏽‍♀️

• Do high intensity sprints outside in the sun 🏃🏽‍♀️

• Spend your weekends hiking in nature ⛰️

FAQs: Common Questions About Sunlight and Exercise

• ☀️ How much sunlight do I need daily? Aim for at least 15-30 minutes of direct sunlight exposure each day, preferably in the morning.

• 🏋🏽‍♀️ What types of exercise are best for boosting mood? Any form of aerobic exercise, such as jogging, cycling, or swimming, can be effective. The key is to find activities you enjoy and can do consistently.

• 💡 Can indoor exercise provide the same benefits? While indoor exercise is beneficial, combining it with outdoor activities can maximize the benefits by adding the positive effects of sunlight.
  

So, enjoy the sunlight, exercise regularly, and stay consistent with aligning your activities with your circadian rhythms, all for better mood, vitality, and a healthier life.

Thank you for taking the time to read 🧡💜
With LOVE, LIGHT and GRATITUDE 🫶🏻
Roudy