Fitness
The impact fitness has on body & soul
This article is about how fitness completely reshaped my life mentally, physically, and emotionally. It’s my honest journey from feeling lost and unsure of myself to becoming someone with discipline, confidence, and purpose. It’s proof that training isn’t just about muscles, it’s about rebuilding who you are.
BY SHAHN DURRANI
I have spent a fair amount of my last few years going to the gym and training, and although it doesn't look it, it's had a huge impact on not just my body but much more. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, it changed my whole outlook on things, as if you have your life in your hands and you can do whatever you want with it. Nothing is stopping you from achieving your dreams and goals; you just have to work for it. Same thing as training, you're training yourself mentally and physically.
You will notice the more you train, it has a huge impact and benefit. Everyday tasks that felt difficult become easy, such as work, socialising, lifting, and day to day activities. You start feeling more confident, like you actually have a purpose in life, which is what I think to myself now and then, how if I didn’t start going to the gym, where would I have been? And I know it sounds deep, and don’t worry, by any means I’m not suicidal lol. I just feel like the more I train, the more I can accomplish and feel like I have actually achieved something. Now, one thing I would note, and I have seen it and done it myself, by any means don't fall into the trap of making going to the gym your personality. I see it so much where all people do is go to the gym and lift and always talk about it, and I'm not shooting it down, but there will become a time where it’s natural to do and it’s just one of your tasks. Some people will just go to the gym and think that they have accomplished lots, but that’s not the case. You also have to prioritise your goals and work on them, whether that’s starting a business, becoming an actor, or something you really want to do in life, make sure you focus on that too.
Benefits
I strongly believe training hard should really be pushed, and I see not a lot of people normalising it, which upsets me a bit because a lot of people have health issues and problems they think they can't face. But just by going to the gym a few times a day for a few months, I guarantee you will find a huge change, such as reduced blood pressure, which lowers risk of heart disease. Now no one wants that at all, but if you don't live a healthy lifestyle, these things can pop out of nowhere, and before you know it, bam, you're gone. It’s really sad. You will also have improved metabolism and weight regulation, as well as enhanced immune function and better sleep quality, which is such a crucial factor to have in your life, and it’s normal to be this way.
Socialising
Now you may be a bit surprised by this, but my gosh, I can personally tell you if you are nervous socialising, you can't initiate conversations, you don't feel confident, and you're scared to ask for a girl’s number, and let’s face it, sometimes we all struggle with this problem, you should definitely start hitting the gym. Now, ask anyone who has known me for 3 years, I would just be a shadow lurking in the distance, not reaching out or being social until someone approached me, and I would be so flustered, not knowing what to say or do or how to act. And I partially think the reason I only have a few friends is because we connected instantly, and I never go out looking for new friends or interactions because I am very happy where I am. But if I was like how I am now 3 years ago, I think I would have too many friends, but that just goes to show the impact it has on you.
Long term lifestyle benefits
You can have many goals in life, and I can guarantee at least one of them requires you to be fit and healthy. I'm not saying you need to be shredded with a 6 pack, but that you can function, and I think the 6 pack and all of that is an extra add on, but come on, wouldn't you love to have one? And it requires a lot of hard work, such as training right, eating right, and, believe it or not, having a good quality of sleep. Not a lot of people touch upon this particular topic, and these will all benefit you in the long run. Most careers demand physical and mental endurance, and by training you can kill 2 birds with one stone. You don't have to be an athlete or a bodybuilder, but simply put, staying healthy supports nearly every job, and fitness can help in many ways. Fitness enhances your ability to handle stress, and in almost every situation you can have stress, but to have the ability to keep that under control can make you take charge of situations better. Being healthy gives you more years to live your life, to do the things you want to achieve, and think to your later years when you eventually have grandkids and even children of your own, you're going to want to run with them, hike, do activities, and maybe just keep up with their pace and energy, right? And exactly just that gives you more than enough incentive to be healthy, in my opinion. And if you're not going to do it for yourself, think about the other people it will affect significantly if you don't.
The game: building discipline, identity, and self mastery
Look at this as a game, right? As you level up you become more powerful and obtain better gear and more currency, and you're noticed by more feared opponents, right? This is my approach to this and how I think. I have accomplished so much since I started training, not just physically, but it has built me up so much discipline so I can complete tasks with ease because you are not just training your body but putting your mind under stress and making it stronger. You want to become the most feared opponent, you want to hone your skills as much as possible, you want to show up when you don't feel like it, and that will teach you consistency, resilience, and self control, which applies to many things in life, whether that be work, relationships, finances, and personal goals, it all translates to something in the end, and that’s the best way to look at it.
And this goes back to a point I mentioned, over time you stop seeing workouts as something you should do and start seeing yourself as someone who takes care of their body, honours their commitments, pushes through discomfort, and chooses growth over excuses. This identity shift is what makes fitness sustainable long term, it becomes a part of who you are.
There's a unique confidence that comes from knowing you are capable of difficult tasks. It changes how you walk, talk, and how you make decisions. It is not just physical but psychological empowerment.
Final reflection
Fitness is so much more than lifting weights or hitting the treadmill, it is a long term investment in your body, your mind, and the person you are becoming. The physical changes are powerful, but the emotional growth, confidence, discipline, and clarity that come with it are life changing.
Whether your goals involve your career, your family, your future, or simply becoming the best version of yourself, a healthy and active lifestyle supports every step of the journey. The impact spreads into every corner of your life, how you think, how you feel, how you show up, and how you live.
When you commit to fitness, you’re not just training your body. You’re training your character, your habits, and your future. And that is the true power of fitness, it shapes your life from the inside out.