How did exercise change your life?
Exercise didn’t just improve my physique, but also my mind and soul.
In the last 5 years, I’ve done free weight training, yoga, calisthenics, tai chi, swimming and more. I gained 13 kilos (almost 30 pounds) in the first 8 months, and have been stable since.
But I’m no gym rat. I don’t have before-after photos. Nor do I post shirtless photos with the #NoPainNoGain hashtag (nothing against people who do). In fact, I still feel embarrassed to take off my shirt.
But exercising has taught me some deep lessons which have filtered into every aspect of my life. From work to friendships, self-improvement, and mindsets. Exercising has made me stronger physically, mentally and emotionally.
Here are 5 deep life lessons I’ve learned by exercising for 5 years.
1. Intent dictates how far you go
I started working out to prove someone wrong.
In the beginning, I progressed fast. But I plateaued within six months and stayed there for almost two years. I lost motivation because the person was no longer in my life.
Only when I realized that exercise was for self-improvement did I begin to progress again. And I turned from the underdog whom the pros encouraged (maybe out of sheer pity) to one whom they now look forward to train with. They can do a few more reps of heavy weights, but I hold the edge in calisthenics.
Likewise in life, intent dictates results.
You might start out with the desire to be rich and famous. And if you’re gritty, you’ll experience success early on. But when you plateau (and you will), you won’t be able to keep going.
Make intellectual and emotional growth your goals too. That’s when you’ll turn plateaus into learning curves.
2. Everything good takes time
In the instant-gratification era, even twelve weeks (which according to research, is how long it takes for others to see a change in your body) sounds like a lifetime. Long-term is as out-of-fashion as landline telephones. And that’s why most people quit.
Exercise takes painfully long (literally) to show results on the body. And people who appear to improve suddenly do so because of the compound effect[1].
Life is just like that.
Success, victory, and self-gratification come only when you play the long game.
Each time I take action, I’ve learned to ask myself, “Is this getting me closer to my goal?” If the answer is yes, I’ll stick to it for the long term. This makes me focused on the important and avoid the urgent like I avoid my ex.
3. One thing at a time
I want to grow stronger AND fitter AND gain weight AND get a ripped body. But I can’t do it all at once.
To grow stronger, I must do heavy sets of deadlifts and squats for at least twelve weeks. But if I want a ripped body, I must do more reps of various exercises with lighter weights.
Just like that, I might want to be an amazing employee, have a startup on the side, travel thrice a year, and know everything happening in the world.
But this is like playing a never-ending game of Whack-a-Mole. We keep using the hammer. But unlike Thor, we don’t do anything remarkable with it.
“It’s not the daily increase, but the daily decrease. Hack away at the inessential.” — Bruce Lee.
4. Discomfort makes you grow
The mind gets tired before the body. The slightest sign of perspiration on the eyebrow makes it scream “ENOUGH!” even though you have a lot left in the tank.
I despised discomfort earlier. But with time, I learned that in discomfort lies the magic of self-improvement.
“Comfort can lead to self-absorption, boredom, and discontent. You can either be comfortable and stagnate or stretch yourself, become uncomfortable, and grow.”
During pullups for instance, my mind would whine at the fourth one. But I’d say “two more” and push myself. The result is that I can do twelve to fifteen reps per set today.
This trait has positively impacted every aspect of my life. If I’m stuck with a problem and my mind demands a break, I stick for ten more minutes. Then ten more. Eventually, an hour passes and I’m pleased with what I achieve.
So make a deal with yourself. When you feel like giving up, do just two more reps. Stick to your task for just one more week. Discomfort will guarantee your growth.
5. Don’t ignore technique
At the core of an effective workout lies the technique, the form. The right form pressures the correct muscles and protects your body from injury.
When I consciously applied the right form, my strength increased. And I successfully did 108 suryanamaskars in 80 minutes. Twice. (Trust me, it’s a big deal.)
Technique is the foundation on which you can build a skyscraper. Ignoring this means setting yourself up for failure. Your construction will crumble even before you’ve built the second floor.
When you stick to the right technique, witchcraft happens in the background until one day, positive results startle you.
Another hidden advantage of technique? It keeps you going when you’re low on motivation.
“Technique is what you fall back on when you run out of inspiration.” — Rudolf Nureyev.
The gym might appear like an isolated part of my life. But the benefits I’ve reaped from it have spread into every aspect — physical, emotional, mental and social.
Life is not only what happens at work, or during a vacation, or when you fall in love. It happens to you at every moment. Use these moments to make a better you, to make yourself the person you wish to become.
