Transform Your Fitness with Mind Power

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a step.

Exercise is good for the body and mind as most of us are familiar with the physical benefits it comes with such as weight loss, better sleep, strong muscles, etc. These physical activities increase the mind, enabling you to keep building, and staying focused on not just the body, but on the mind because they are both interconnected.

Mental fitness is as important as physical fitness because the mind is the center of all human activities and it comes with many advantages above any other. 

Well, this is a personal experience I would love to share to keep you informed of whole body fitness, which isn't all about agility and strength but also includes exercising the mind to keep your brain in shape.

I remember when I was in sss1; I was just 14 years old and because I was a quiet and gentle soul, an introverted being. I was always hesitant to participate in sports activities at school. Every Thursday, while my sport-loving classmates eagerly looked forward to the weekly games, I would shy away, out of the fear of being bullied when I am unable to get the exercises conducted by the sports teacher. 

I was a lazy perfectionist, that is, I wanted everything to be perfect, but I wasn't willing to put in the effort. Procrastination became my coping mechanism, and I mastered the art of making excuses.

I remember days I'd pretend to be unhealthy or injured, just to avoid working out. It was a convenient lie, but deep down, I knew I was just afraid of...

Then, something happened that changed my perspective. At 20 years old, I stumbled upon a podcast that discussed the transformative power of exercise. For the first time, I heard stories of people who had overcome their own struggles and achieved their goals through hard work and determination.

Something inside me shifted. I felt a spark of motivation, a sense of hope that I hadn't felt in years. I realized that I had a choice: I could continue down the path of excuses and mediocrity, or I could take control of my life and start working towards my goals.

So back to what I encountered:

Two women in their early thirties were being interviewed on their personal experiences when it comes to keeping fit. While the former said workouts changed her, the latter said she was completely healed from depression. Both women are successful in their various fields — one as a doctor and the other as a relationship therapist.

One of them had a share of bullying because she was as slim as a broomstick and when she began fitness, it was all about the process, the journey it comes along, and despite how she kept her focus on building her body, gaining fat weight, it was futile as in the end, her confidence level was the best thing that ever happened. She didn't let fear paralyze her.

I was nostalgic at first because it was my first time hearing about fitness being a therapy. I had seen it as something stressful and tiring and so I thought to try working out to see if what they said was true, if what they said was true, if I was going to be refined like gold.

Not to forget, I wasn't keen on losing weight or adding weight, I just wanted to see how fitness changed and healed a person. 

First week, I did home exercises when I woke up in the morning as early as 6 am. I would jog on the spot, squat, stretch, and plank, counting aloud. The second week, I watched some YouTube videos even though it was a struggle because I was uncertain if I was getting it right. I began to find it boring (maybe because I was working out alone) not until the third week when I was starting to gradually derive pleasure from it. Doing yoga exercises helped me meditate more and I felt relaxed. 

I would climb the stairs to and fro to control my breath, and take long strides while walking as I tune in to jam with my favorite song, This Girl is on Fire by Alicia Keys. It was an amazing source of inspiration that I never stopped playing the song till fitness became a fun game. I was starting to feel different, and changes occurred in the way I talked, walked, felt, dressed, and thought. Who knew this could happen to me!

I began to worry less but to trust the process. Self-discovery, self-awareness, and self-realization happened during the process. I learned, relearned, and unlearned through playing mind games such as puzzles, solving problems, etc. There was genuine happiness in and through me, suddenly I became goal-oriented and purposeful (clarity calls).

Timidity dispersed, I felt free. I could smile widely. I became interested in my self-development and productivity. I transformed from being an intense procrastinator into a smart, sharp, and accurate lady. Speed, punctuality, and consistency became close friends I accepted. I cared less about what people said or thought about me — it didn't matter anymore. I had to let go of pals, family, and loved ones who were unaligned with my growth.

During my fitness process, I turned into a voracious reader, writer, observer, philosopher, and conversationalist. I practiced self-love by writing love letters to myself each day, I would write and write till there were butterflies in my belly. I would talk to myself when I felt like throwing in the towel, and affirmations were healthy words that worked like magic, especially when I stood in front of the mirror… it's like I was faced with my demon, the very thing standing in the way between who I was and who I intend to become.

It didn't end there, I committed myself to gratitude — first to God, then to my parents, siblings, neighbours, etc. I would pray, call and send gifts, just to express the way I felt. Even when they hurt me, I never stopped thanking them because I realized everything happens for a reason and that reason is there to assist me.

I was introduced to a fitness community by a buddy of mine and ever since, I've gotten better and better, every day in every way, less struggle with inconsistencies. Yes, that's what exercise does to the human mind. It improves you, it makes you happier, and it makes you disciplined.

As you work out, you begin to see life from a different perspective. If you want to be at the top, WORK OUT!

How you do one thing is how you do everything, to be whole and healthy, you must focus on what makes you become resilient and you don't stop until you are proud.

Work It!