Everybody Needs a Purpose

Napoleon Hill, author of the seminal books "Think and Grow Rich" and "Law of Success", spoke at length about the importance of having a definite chief aim in life. This is the idea of knowing what it is that you want out of life, and knowing how to best achieve it. These two books were originally written during the Great Depression, but the ideas contained in Hill's writings are just as applicable today as they were during the Hoover and Roosevelt administrations. There has to be some reason to get out of bed in the morning, no matter your age. Without purpose, there is no motivation to keep getting better in some capacity, and life is about pushing forward, taking on challenges, and making the most out of each day.

One's definite chief aim in life may be their work. Whether you are a business owner or employee, finding a line of work that interests you and that you enjoy will give you purpose. I believe that in order to truly excel at something, you have to love it, or at least find a way to derive pleasure from it. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to instruct exercise for a living. Being able to work with the amazing clients at Total Results gives me purpose and makes me happy to get out of bed in the morning, plus it spurs me to continue to improve. However, if and when one retires from their primary career it can be a difficult task to figure out what comes next. Professional athletes face a slightly greater challenge when this happens, because their retirement comes at a much younger age than the average accountant, but also because their lives are often even more structured and centered around playing their sport. I think it's important at that point to find a new definite chief aim. Many Total Results clients are retired but still live fulfilling and active lives that involve travel, volunteering, grandchildren, learning new skills, and making the most out of each day. Exercise is a tool to help them accomplish this.

Regular Total Results exercise will help you to become stronger, fitter, better conditioned, more resistant to injury, and more functionally independent. Taking proactive health measures, such as participating in consistent exercise sessions, will mean less reliance on medication, fewer doctor visits, more energy, and less fatigue. You will be able to perform the activities of daily living with less effort, which will enable you to pursue what you want out of life with more vigor. All of this can be achieved in less than one hour per week. As clients become stronger and better conditioned, they often find themselves wanting to be more active. If you want to participate in a specific event or take up a new sport (run a 5K, play pickleball, Tough Mudder, etc.), it's important to understand the principle of specificity. You must train to learn and master the skills that are required for that activity; you can become better at hiking only by hiking, and you must gradually increase your running distance and pace to prepare for a 5K race. I have begun coaching football at Dominion High School, so I witness the principle of specificity on a daily basis. We teach the players the specific skills that their sport and position require to enable them to become the best players they can be.

There are many ways to find purpose and meaning in life. Choose a path that best suits your temperament and drive, and give it your all. Use the sensible and comprehensive Total Results exercise approach to help you achieve your goals!