The health benefits from consistent fitness training are numerous.
The body becomes stronger and more resilient. Anxiety and depression lessen. Longevity surges, adding as many as 7 years to your life. That’s an extra 61,320 hours you could spend geeking out on space documentaries! Oh wait that’s me.
These are well-established precepts supported by decades of research and analysis. No surprises here.
But fitness is more than just a tool to construct our physical frames. It builds connections between our minds, bodies and souls. It taps into our unconscious and spiritual selves, shining light on our intrinsic drivers and motivators.
Fitness empowers us to be more mindful of ourselves and our environment.
Many folks recommend some type of active introspection to kick-start the self-awareness journey, like journaling.
I see it a bit differently.
While I understand the benefits of thoughtful reflection, I find greater value in doing. By shutting off my mind instead of turning the volume up.
Fitness is perfect for this.
I’ll share a secret with you: I was kind of a jerk for a while.
I’ll stop short of calling myself an outright ass, but I was selfish. Conceited. Uninterested in others’ thoughts, feelings or emotions. It was my way or the highway and I had zero time for anyone who thought differently. I drank too much and didn’t pay enough attention to my diet.
This bled over into my fitness training. I ran as fast as I could, as hard as I could. Anything less than 100% intensity was a waste. Any activity other than running was a waste. Any time slower than my previous personal best was a waste.
Just like I did with people, I didn’t give fitness the respect it deserved.
Unsurprisingly, this led to frequent failure and frustration, which just compounded the issue.
I was a mess.
Sometimes it takes a dramatic event to inspire change.
I was struck rather emphatically with severe anxiety in the midst of this immoral self-indulgence. Panic attacks and other physical manifestations became common. Long story short, part of my therapy was to broaden the scope of my physical activities. Needless to say I resisted at first.
But as I forcibly incorporated yoga, swimming, weightlifting, pilates, hiking and biking into my routine, something began to take shape. Fitness became a source of peace and tranquility rather than chaos and intensity.
It became my foundation. My inspiration. The ethos from which I perceived the world around me.
I spoke less. I listened more. I became interested in learning, in reading, in understanding concepts and ideas holistically. Through 6 hour meditative jogs and all day walkathons, I tested the limits of the mind’s control over the body, fascinated by their consummate connection.
I stopped projecting my insecurities outward. I no longer needed alcohol to fill (perceived) gaps in my personality. I became more comfortable in my own skin. More confident in my ideas. More accepting of different thoughts and opinions. And less reliant on others for validation.
As a result, my anxiety went away and my true self emerged.
People lack self-awareness because they lack humility and accountability. They let themselves get away with everything. To become self-aware is to intentionally notice your behavior. To be accountable for the times you screw up and having the humility to make the necessary adjustments.
Fitness drives this home.
It’s on you, just you, to lift that weight, run that distance, hike that mountain. There are no shortcuts, no workarounds, just hard work. When you fail, and trust me you will fail, you learn to dust yourself off, tie your shoes and try again until eventually you succeed.
Fitness laughs in the face of your ego.
The weight on the squat rack doesn’t care you hit a personal best last week. The marathon doesn’t care how fast you were in high school. The mountain stands tall, defiant, as it has for millions of years. You think it cares how strong you think you are?
Once you approach obstacles from a place of humility, the better prepared you’ll be to overcome them. If you expect flaws in your character, you’ll learn to take responsibility for them. By embracing challenge and hardship and interference you’ll be better equipped to come out the other side a stronger, better person.
“The obstacle is the way” – Marcus Aurelius
Be strong, be safe, be well.
Scott Mayer is a runner, thinker, curious observer and certified personal trainer.
Photo courtesy of Kike Vega on Unsplash