I train every day. It’s a routine I’ve been practicing for years: Injured? I train. Tired? I train. Overwhelmed by demanding clients? I train. Whether it’s martial arts, weight lifting, running, etc., I’m always training. Training can improve your life (and character) in many ways.
Consequently, when people ask me how they can become better, my answer is always the same: Start exercising if you aren’t already.
Your physical body is a representation of your mindset, personal philosophy, and overall quality of life.
Take care of your body, and everything else will fall into place. But at this point, you may wonder specifically how training can make you a better person. Keep reading to learn 3 proven ways training can improve your life and character.
1. Grit and Determination
Grit and determination: The foundational qualities required for success in any undertaking. These essential attributes can (and must be) cultivated within you. And where’s the best place to start? You guessed it!
With a consistent training program…
This is one of the foremost ways training can improve your life: The grit and determination you develop help you gain an unwavering degree of perseverance. Also, you build confidence, physical (and mental) strength, and self-belief the more you push yourself physically.
Some other benefits of these traits include:
- Undeviating focus toward your long-term goals
- Perseverance and persistence in the face of obstacles
- The ability to rebound from failure
- More confidence in yourself to take risks
- Developed capacity for making difficult decisions
- Mental fortitude
By their very nature, these twin qualities are assets to anyone who puts in the effort to develop them. And this is one of the leading ways training can improve your life.
2. A Healthy, Strong, and Fit Body
According to statista.com (a market leader in statistical data for over a decade), 35.6% of Canadians were classified as either overweight or obese in 2020; that’s a staggering 8.3 million people in this country who are unhealthy and out of shape.
That is unacceptable…
One of the most powerful ways training can improve your life is by strengthing your body. Such information is not new or revolutionary. However, it is important to be reminded of this benefit as it’s an encouraging incentive to start (or continue with) a training regime.
Nobody wants to be fat and flabby.
But according to statistics, many people have–unfortunately–settled for that poor standard of physicality. When you adopt training as a way of life, you’ll be healthy, strong, and fit for the remainder of your days!
What a better world this would be if people took more personal responsibility in this vital area of their lives…
3. Happiness and Life Satisfaction
Whether young, middle-aged, or old, exercise has been linked to increased levels of happiness and life satisfaction. In fact, a 2020 study published by the NIH (National Institutes of Health) revealed that—across the board—physical activity was connected to contentment and joyful living.
The study gathered more than 2300 participants who were then categorized into groups of young, middle-aged, and old.
The participants with moderate to high levels of physical activity experienced greater happiness than those with reduced physical engagement. And while some of the findings were inconsistent, the overarching consensus is clear: You’ll be happier if you are more physically active.
But why is this the case?
When you train, your enhanced sense of well-being comes from your mind releasing endorphins. Endorphins (also referred to as the feel-good chemical) are neurotransmitters within your brain.
Once released, endorphins flood your mind, making you feel happier and more at ease.
Moreover, endorphins also interact with dopamine and serotonin (other chemicals that regulate and influence your mood). As a result, these neurotransmitters work in unison to improve the quality of your emotional state.
And this strengthened mode of being is one of the most essential ways training can improve your life.
Final Thoughts
There are countless ways training can improve your life; I’ve only covered a few of the more obvious ones here. It goes without saying that the benefits are well worth the effort expended. For this reason, it’s essential you maintain your health and fitness, as it will serve you well for the remainder of your days.
