Finding Strength in the Shadows: Transforming Health and Fitness Through Adversity

As a health and fitness coach, I often discuss how challenging it is for busy, middle-aged professionals to maintain a consistent fitness routine.

Recently, an article by Bianca Caruana about finding strength in darkness inspired me to reflect on how this concept applies to health and fitness. Just as facing our inner struggles leads to personal growth, embracing the discomfort of a fitness journey can transform you in ways you may not initially see.

In the Depths of Darkness, We Find Ourselves

In her compelling article, Bianca talks about the fact that sometimes, the only way out is through the darkness itself. We resist it, fearing its unknown depths, yet in that darkness lies a unique power—a chance to pause, to listen, and to feel what we often push away. It’s in these moments, that we meet the parts of ourselves we’ve neglected, the hidden truths we’ve long buried.

Her words will surely resonate with anyone who has faced hardship and felt lost in the shadows. (Read the full article here to explore her beautifully honest reflections.)

Ultimately, the take-home message is about embracing the inevitable darkness within life as a place of both grounding and transcendence. Through surrendering to it, we learn to see not only the shadows but also the intricate beauty and resilience that emerge when we are willing to "let the darkness hold us."

Now in that context, let’s talk fitness.

Overcoming Obstacles: Success Born from Adversity

Just like overcoming darkness, transforming health and fitness is a journey through discomfort and growth.

For those of you who follow my work, you know that I often emphasize that successful health and fitness outcomes don’t happen because of favorable conditions, but in spite of adversity.

Here are some of my thoughts on how this parallel can offer a new perspective:

1. Facing the Unknown with Courage

Just as facing darkness requires courage to confront what we cannot fully see or understand, beginning a health or fitness journey often means venturing into unfamiliar and uncomfortable territory. It requires us to challenge our habits, beliefs, and physical limitations, even when we can’t yet see the end results. Embracing this unknown is essential to starting transformative change.

2. Learning from Discomfort

Darkness represents a place of discomfort, and similarly, health and fitness transformations often involve pushing through physical and mental discomfort. Exercise, for example, involves "good pain"—temporary discomfort that, when respected and managed, leads to growth. By learning to sit with this discomfort rather than resisting it, we become more resilient, adaptable, and ultimately stronger.

3. Breaking Down to Build Up

In fitness, muscle growth occurs when we stress and microscopically "break down" muscle fibers, which then repair stronger through the body’s adaptive process called “supercompensation.” In health, overcoming setbacks or lifestyle changes may feel like a breakdown. This is akin to embracing darkness—understanding that transformation requires a phase of letting go of old patterns, breaking down limitations, and allowing space for new, healthier habits to develop.

4. Shifting Your Perspective on Setbacks

Setbacks in health and fitness are like temporary "dark" periods, but they often reveal areas needing attention. Just as darkness teaches patience and humility, setbacks teach us about our vulnerabilities and strengths, showing where we can grow. Rather than seeing them as failures, we can view them as opportunities to learn and recalibrate our approach. Think about those times when you planned an ambitious workout but ended up missing the session. Setbacks like these provide opportunities to reassess and refocus.

5. Grounding in Small, Consistent Efforts

Just as Bianca’s blog post describes grounding oneself in the dark soil, health transformation is about consistent, grounded efforts that yield results over time. In a word, “consistency.” It’s about planting seeds with small, steady habits like nutritious meals, regular movement, and mental well-being practices. Over time, these "rooted" actions take hold and blossom into lasting, meaningful changes.

6. Embracing Your Own Growth Cycle

Darkness is cyclical—just as nature has seasons, so does personal growth. Health and fitness are not linear; there will be cycles of strength, rest, and recovery. Embracing this natural rhythm, instead of demanding constant progress, allows for a sustainable and compassionate approach to wellness. But at the same time, know that for enduring health and fitness success, you really need your habits to stick. For that, consistency is crucial.

7. Finding Empowerment in Vulnerability

Facing the darkness in life requires acknowledging vulnerability, just as starting or continuing a fitness journey requires humility and openness to the process. Allowing yourself to be a beginner or to struggle through challenges can make the journey more authentic, giving you permission to grow at your own pace and recognize your strength within. In fitness terms, set your sights on challenging yet achievable goals.

8. Seeing the Light Beyond the Challenge

When we embrace and move through the dark and difficult parts of our health journey, we come out stronger and more aware of our capacities. The proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel” is the clarity, energy, and vitality we gain from prioritizing our health—a reward that often feels brighter and more fulfilling because of the challenges we’ve overcome.

Fitness is more than building strength and endurance; it’s also about pushing through discomfort to unlock deeper levels of self-awareness and resilience.

This Carl Jung quote speaks to the importance of acknowledging and facing challenges head-on, recognizing that true growth comes from confronting discomfort and adversity:

“There's no coming to consciousness without pain. No tree, it is said, can grow to heaven unless its roots reach down to hell. One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” ~ Carl Jung

In Closing

Just as our bodies adapt to stress and challenges, our minds and spirits grow stronger through adversity. The journey to better health isn't always easy, but each struggle you face in strength-training, with cardio, or in the kitchen, roots you more deeply in your goals. You’re not just building a better body; you’re building awareness, resilience, and purpose.

By embracing darkness as a vital part of the journey, you turn every challenge in health and fitness into a stepping stone toward resilience and balance. Each struggle brings you closer to a healthier, balanced, and more empowered self.

When you see each challenge as an essential part of the journey, you can approach health and fitness, not just as goals, but as pathways to self-discovery and growth. Embrace every struggle as a step toward becoming a healthier, stronger, and more resilient version of yourself.