Have you ever wondered what’s possible for you – what you’re truly capable of? I believe the vast majority of us are operating at a subpar level, at best. It is my humble opinion that we’re all leaving a lot on the table. But the question then becomes: How do we access more of our latent potential? It’s a valid question. One way to access and unlock more of who we are is through the startling effects of athletics — exercising every day.
We all know we should exercise, but few of us have ever thought about how our minds, bodies, and personalities are impacted by exercise. To illustrate the possibilities that are available to you by simply moving your body, I’d like to share a story of the unique life lesson I learned – and the amazing experiences I’ve had – from exercising every day.
But first, let me just say…
There’s Nothing Special About Me
A little context. I didn’t grow up particularly athletic. On the contrary, for most of my childhood, I was actually overweight. I got teased and made of by my peers and was ashamed of my physical appearance for pretty much all of my adolescence.
I didn’t even start exercising consistently until I was 26. However, I did have a couple of things going for me.
And these are simple attributes that anyone can develop with enough time and repetition.
Commitment And Consistency
Dec. 30th, 2020, was a pivotal day for me – although I didn’t realize it at the time. It was on this day that I made the choice to begin exercising every single day. The exercises were a combination of different activities at varying levels of intensity.
Some days I did long-distance running on the trials…
Other days were vigorous weight lifting sessions in the gym…
And then I had days that simply consisted of a 5 or 10-minute workout session in my apartment following along with a YouTube fitness video…
The only criteria for success were that I showed up and worked out – every day. Initially, nothing really came from it. All I was trying to do at this point was turn exercise into a daily habit, and it actually happened rather quickly.
Before long, exercise was a part of my daily routine and lifestyle. As a result, I naturally began pushing myself more and more as I started to build endurance in my athletic performance.
And it was at this time that I began…
Setting Higher Goals
I decided I wanted to run my first marathon. 26.2 miles (42.2km), it was the perfect challenge to test my capabilities. And I felt pretty confident about it considering how I had stayed consistent with a daily workout routine.
However, that didn’t mean I wasn’t intimidated by the loftiness of this goal. I had never run that kind of distance before, but I was eager to get after it!
Consequently, I began an intense training regiment to prepare myself. And shortly thereafter, I noticed some unique changes beginning to take place in my routine. Slowly, I began to…
- Eat healthier
- Drink more water
- Get more quality sleep
- Adhere to a more health-conscious routine
- Distance myself from people who didn’t support me
- Feel better about myself and my life
It was as if setting the goal to run a marathon (and actually working toward it) was creating a snowball effect and changing me in every capacity imaginable.
As a result, 2021 was a year of growth in my life. I got on a solid nutrition plan that I still adhere to today, I ran 4 half marathons, two full marathons, and even took up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (a martial art and combat sport) where I competed in my very first tournament.
I’m healthy, strong, and full of energy! And I owe it all to that little discipline of exercising every day. Moreover, I learned a very valuable life lesson that I want you to take to heart…
You’re More Powerful Than You Think
When I began working out every day, my only desire was to get in shape. That was it. I had no idea the simple act of daily exercise would have such a profound effect on my life, personality, and identity.
As so it is with you…
If you’re like most people, chances are you’ve probably been selling yourself short for a long time. This needs to stop. You are powerful beyond measure, and there’s so much more to you than you can even fathom right now.
Exercising every day has taught me that we are more capable than we give ourselves credit for. I never knew I could run marathons, compete in martial arts tournaments, and become a vibrant athlete; that wasn’t in my realm of possibility just a couple of short years ago.
But look at me now.
And so I invite you to ask yourself, “What are you truly capable of? If you really committed… where would you be in 3 to 5 years? If you wholeheartedly threw yourself into something every day, what would it make of you?”
The smallest of disciplines can have a profound impact on your life in a few short years’ time. I know I’ve already hit you with a barrage of questions to ponder, but I’d like to leave you with just one more…
What can you do starting tomorrow that will transform who you become in the future?
I can tell you from personal experience that if you do commit, and truly jump into whatever it is you’ve been thinking about doing – that the juice is well worth the squeeze.
