Our previous articles have provided useful tools that can be applied in the gym. Today, it is my goal to keep you out of the gym.

Maintaining a strong physical body is only part of living a healthy life. Cultivating the social and mental aspects of your life are just as important for your well-being. As far as I know, there is no step-by-step guide to a chiseled inner-self. We are all strong in some areas socially/mentally; and we all have areas that could use improving.

(Disclaimer: The remainder of this article is not founded from my education, but from human experiences that often surpass the limited depths of education).

The potential influence of a single interaction is staggering. You never know when a simple act of kindness, a lesson learned, a phone conversation, or simply a smile will forever imprint itself in your mind. Typically, we aren’t aware of how these interactions help cultivate the way we live, but sometimes certain interactions stick out in our minds. Most of you may be able to think back to an event or conversation that happened in your youth;,which has carried forward and influenced the way you live your life today.

When I was 18 and living in Southern Alberta, a friend that I had only known for a couple months lent me his  car to drive in to work (standard transmission + Stuart at that time = bad idea). I made it three streets before I broke his car. I don’t know much about vehicles other than they’re not supposed to smoke. I was expecting an appropriate reaction of anger from my friend. Instead, he smiled, told me not to worry about it, and drove me to work on the back of his motorcycle. I couldn’t believe that this 17 year-old who I’d known for two months, with just as much money to his name as I did (not enough to repair the car), would react with such kindness and forgiveness.

I think back to this experience often, and have no doubt that it has shaped both the way I treat others and the way I try not to value material things too much. It’s nice to be on the receiving side of these positive experiences, but it’s always more satisfying to be the one that gives. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to work with amazing people every day, positively influencing them through our friendships and exercise. As a result, I have the satisfaction of seeing them become healthier and happier, which makes me feel proud of their hard work and my small contribution.

A good friend of mine is an elementary years school teacher. Her heart was perfectly created to do her job. Many of the children she works with are less fortunate than other kids in the city. Where many teachers would be disheartened or unsympathetic working with these children, my friend turns every moment into a positive interaction. She has the wonderful opportunity to not only brighten her own day, but to shine on the lives of all her students.

Not everyone will have the opportunity to work at a job where his or her social/mental well-being will be adequately nourished. This is where it becomes important to find an activity, group of friends, or some type of outlet that will expose you to these interactions. Throughout different stages of our lives, these outlets will change. You may find that your old group of friends is not as supportive of your healthier lifestyle habits as you would have hoped. When your weekly night out no longer consists of going out for drinks, but going to a park for a bike ride, you may find yourself looking for someone aligned with the same interests. Having a family, discovering religion, picking up dancing, or joining a boot camp are all examples of ways that some people might strengthen their inner selves.

If you feel as though you do not currently have such an outlet, I strongly encourage you to do some personal reflection. Determine what type of human interaction will help develop your mental health and positively affect others around you at the same time. Your physical body might be the temple; but it’s the people around you that fill the temple with meaning and love.

-Stuart