The Power of Fitness: Building a Strong Sense of Self Through Mental Health Challenges

In a world full of distractions and challenges, no excuse should deter anyone from their fitness goals. As a survivor of a mental health condition, I have learned the invaluable lesson of maintaining a fit body despite any odds. Physical fitness fundamentally creates a robust and unbreakable sense of self. This principle hinges on believing in yourself and your capabilities. Unfortunately, mental health is often misrepresented, leading to widespread misconceptions. As a result, many people are misled by inaccurate explanations rather than relying on scientifically proven findings. Achieving holistic healing through mental health challenges is highly complex, making it crucial for survivors to engage in activities that nourish their emotions and help them develop a stronger sense of self. This article explores my personal journey in building a substantial sense of self through fitness.

After a long struggle with an unmedicated and mostly undiagnosed mental health condition—ranging from social anxiety to what seemed like Bipolar I Disorder—I developed a strong need for an unbreakable sense of self. Initially, my condition appeared to be Bipolar I Disorder, but after extensive research and online engagement, I realized it was more an illusion stemming from anxiety to Bipolar I Disorder. This realization significantly altered my healing process, providing new insights on achieving a smooth and calm recovery. My progress is largely due to the robust sense of self I have cultivated over time. So, how have I built this strong sense of self?

It begins with forming an unbreakable spirit. Emotional strength grows from how individuals perceive themselves, encompassing their desires, representations, and portrayals within social spaces. From this assurance, I have built a strong sense of self by attaching personal meaning to every situation and outcome. Consequently, I have gained full control over my social space. My past article, “Tracing Back My History with Bipolar Disorder,” briefly touches on my childhood, revealing a fragile sense of self. My upbringing suggested an inability to attach personal meanings to situations and outcomes, limiting my personal perspective. This lack of control over my feelings prevented me from building a strong sense of self. However, thanks to my virtual interactions and internet research, I have managed to combat this over the past three years. How?

It all began when I discovered my purpose in life. Understanding why you live, setting boundaries, and respecting them brings clarity to your reason for being. This clarity allows you to assign meaning to all situations in your life according to your perspective and understanding. For me, my purpose intertwined with my passion for fitness. For over six years, I have been a fitness enthusiast. While maintaining a regular gym routine might seem like an overstatement, my fitness journey has been influenced by how I felt at different times. It’s normal to have good and bad days. However, the feeling of staying fit in mind and body is crucial for everyone. My mood journal records show that the times I feel most in shape and actively engaged in activities aligning with my life purpose are when I achieve a full sense of self. These have been the most peaceful times in my life. My sense of self has been unbreakable during these periods.

Generally, maintaining fitness helps relieve the pressure that can weaken emotional strength, which serves as immunity against mental health conditions. The conviction to live purposefully must be genuine. I believe this applies to everyone since no one is immune to mental health issues. How do I achieve this? By sharing my fitness tips and personal experiences with mental health conditions, I offer firsthand insights and valuable knowledge. Sharing what I have learned, which has positively impacted my life and relates to human experience, has been the most fulfilling for me.

In contemporary society, many distractions often limit the time available to achieve daily plans. People tend to engage in pleasurable activities that make them feel accomplished and protect their emotional well-being, such as exploring new environments, working from home, and enjoying their favorite media. We all agree that for emotional strength, we each have unique preferences, which is perfectly fine. However, certain constants apply to everyone for authenticity.

A fit body keeps a fit mind and vice versa. Everyone desires fitness in their own way, as fitness is diverse. Therefore, it’s essential to engage in activities that challenge both mental and physical abilities. This is how to stay fit in both mind and body. In my case, I find ways to engage my body physically in any environment. This is how I have maintained physical fitness, hence my social brand name, Mr. Abbs, attributed to my rock-hard abdominal and oblique muscles. My flexible workout plans can be implemented anytime, provided one is free from severe physical illness.

Like many people, I am not a regular gym-goer, so relying solely on gym visits to define my physical sense of self would expose it to threats. Instead, I incorporate various physical activities suitable for any environment and can be combined with leisure activities. Any peaceful emotional activity can be enhanced with physical activities that challenge the body. For instance, watching, listening, hiking, walking, swimming, or bonding sessions can be paired with physical activities that contribute to our physical well-being.

In the end, the journey to a strong sense of self is deeply personal but universally achievable. By integrating fitness into our lives, we not only build stronger bodies but also forge unbreakable spirits capable of withstanding the pressures of mental health challenges. So, let’s embrace fitness as a cornerstone of our holistic well-being and inspire others to do the same.