Fitness revolves around one’s ego. Training for looks being the prime example. But training for strength and longevity isn’t that far behind.
Sure, the latter two have a bigger impact on the well-being of others compared to the obsessively blind chase for six-pack abs. Both in terms of how much your capabilities positively contribute to those around you, and because you’re less likely to be a burden to the medical system.
But. Most of that is still a side effect of an otherwise selfish pursuit.
To add more selflessness to our fitness, we can look for opportunities to get our daily dose of physical activity while improving the lives of others.
Chopping wood or shovelling snow for the elderly neighbour. Mowing the lawn for that single mum with three kids. Helping a diarrhea-ridden friend move the grand piano because apparently it really needs to be done today.
We already do some of that because, well, it’s a nice thing to do. And it has nothing to do with our fitness. But by fine-tuning our antenna for these opportunities, we’re likely to find more of them.
And if you’ve exhausted all the traditional, selfish sources of motivation to improve your fitness, coming at it with the selfless point-of-view is worth a try.
– J