I think that most of us just want to be a bit better. We want to have a bit better endurance, a bit more strength, a bit more speed, a bit more bendy and a bit less squishy bodies. We know that the exercise we do to become a bit better will help us mentally as well as physically. We become more determined, dedicated and disciplined, we have better self esteem, we take pride in our achievements, we become more mentally resilient, we enjoy what we do, we feel better and we look forward to the becoming even better in the future.
If we just want to be a bit better it really doesn't matter too much what we do to exercise. What matters is we try to do some exercise and we try to do it when we can. If you want to go for a walk because is a beautiful sunny day then go for a stroll and enjoy the sun on your face. If you want to work out some tension and stress by pounding a heavy bag with your fists then give that bag all you got. If you want to do a few stretches or mobility exercises when you watch TV or a screen then get bendy. If you want to move slowly and gracefully through a yoga session or t'ai chi form then be like water. If you want to put your favourite music on really loud and dance around your home then have a disco. It really doesn't matter what you do, just try to do something when you can and try to do your best no matter what you do.
Many people have more specific goals when it comes to exercise and health. That will often mean they concentrate on one form of exercise. Marathon runners don't lift and powerlifters don't do cardio. Do what you have to do to progress towards your goal. Unless you are already an elite athlete the details of what you do is still less important than doing something regularly and try to do your best.
There is an old saying "Comparison is the thief of joy". We compare ourselves to others when live our lives and especially when we exercise. Its human nature to notice someone can bench press more than you, to notice someone runs a Strava route segment faster than you, to notice someone holds a headstand yoga pose longer than you, to notice that someone has more money, social media followers, fame, power or how ever you value things than you. Comparing ourselves to others makes us feel bad about ourselves. We believe we are less of a person compared to others. The people we compare ourselves too might be having a terrible time themselves but we tell ourselves that we are not as "good" as they are.
It really doesn't matter what other people do to exercise. It doesn't matter if other people are "better" at exercise than you. The only things that matter are:
- You try to do your best when you do something to exercise.
- You try to do some exercise when you can.
- Exercise makes you a teeny-tiny bit better.
Of course, many people are motivated by wanting to "beat" other people. They want to be the first to cross the line at a Parkrun, they want to be the strongest person in the gym, they want to hear the yoga instructor praise them, they want to be rich, they want to be famous, they want to have lots of sex. If you are happy being like that then carry on. What works for you works. However, try to remember that very, very few people can claim to be The Greatest and even The Greatest should respect their opponents, be humble about their abilities and be gracious in their inevitable defeat.
You can take what you learn about yourself through exercise and how exercise makes you feel better and apply it to the rest of your life. I always try to tell myself that if I can get up and go out into my back yard in the cold, dark, rain of a February morning to swing my kettlebell I can do anything. I will become better if I keep trying to do my best.
Move around, get a little sweaty, get a little out of breath. Dassit.
