“I know that damaged is not destroyed”
From “Standing In The Storm” by August Burns Red
This week on The Hardcore Humanism Podcast we talk with Jake Luhrs, vocalist of the band August Burns Red. August Burns Red has a new album out called Guardians. In their review of the album, Kerrang! raves, “An explosion of airtight technicality gouged with deceptively infectious grooves … every moment maintains a pulse-pounding high. And they just dropped a brand-new video for the song “Standing in the Storm” which Loudwire called “hard hitting but heartfelt.”
In addition to his music, Luhrs has launched YourLife Gym. It’s the first I’ve ever heard of this concept, which is a gym that focuses on both physical and mental health. So, in addition to the equipment, classes and trainers found in traditional gyms that focus on physical fitness, there are classes and trainers that focus on mental health including mindfulness classes and mental health coaching sessions. This is a really exciting innovation because we know that exercise is effective in helping to improve both physical and mental health. But we may be missing more of an opportunity to improve one’s well-being by not giving people who come to a gym the opportunity to work out their mind as well as their body.
There is so much to take away from the conversation with Luhrs. One of the main issues that Jake discusses is that struggling with a mental health issue such as depression can spark a spiritual crisis. We can lose faith in everything – in ourselves, our friends, our family, the world around us and our higher power because nothing feels right and we have no hope that it ever will get better. And we lose faith in a world that could allow us to be in such severe emotional pain. As an example, one study of 122 participants from a sample of adult patients in an urban primary care clinic found that lower levels of spirituality such as belief in a higher power and importance of prayer were associated with higher levels of depression.
And it was really inspiring how with all of the stressors that Jake faced in his life, he never gave up trying to find his path to spirituality and purpose. He looked to music and his faith in a higher power and these helped him during his dark times. And he’s now living out that purpose with the YourLife gym where he helps people who also may be struggling. Jake’s path is consistent with a growing focus on the potential benefits of adding spiritual components to more conventional treatments for depression.
A practical takeaway from Luhrs’ story is that sometimes when we feel that we are consumed by darkness, a way to let in a little light is to do one tangible kind thing for ourselves. Maybe talk with a trusted friend about our struggles, listen to music that helps us feel better or take up exercise to strengthen our body and boost our mood. And we can also look outside ourselves to be kind and helpful to others. That kindness may be what gets us through and what keeps our faith in ourselves and humanity.
