The Real Reason People Exercise (Will Shock You)

Have you ever caught yourself looking around the gym, quietly questioning, “What’s the point?” Maybe you see people grinding it out for hours and it just looks pointless from the outside. That’s exactly where I was today—arms crossed, leaning on the gym wall, watching another rep and thinking, “Honestly, is anyone really getting those magazine abs anyway?”

But then you spot a guy like Jason—head down, sweat dripping, focused on every push-up like it’s the only thing that matters. Not showing off, not looking for an audience. I couldn’t help but throw a sarcastic look his way. Before I could wisecrack, he just said, in this calm, mechanical-in-a-good-way tone, “There are certain things that are not for others to see.” That one hit a nerve.

Emma, wiser than both of us, just sits on the bench and drops this: “He exercises not for you to watch, but for himself.” Suddenly, it clicks—a little embarrassing how obvious it is. We talk so much about chasing results or impressing others, but the real grind? It’s when no one’s looking. It’s never about the crowd, not really.

Jason gets up, wipes the sweat from his forehead, and nails it: “They are for myself, to serve as reasons for my perseverance.” That’s the heart of it. Every rep, every drop of sweat, that’s the stuff no one applauds. But it changes you, quietly, when no one’s watching.

Next time you find yourself doubting why you showed up, remember: the real reason isn’t on display. It’s what keeps you coming back, long after the gym clears out, and it’s all yours.

What’s your real reason for showing up?