"Thought conditions action"

Montse came in feeling worried. She often has neck pain, and her physiotherapist gave her some exercises to do on her own. But instead of helping, the exercises made her neck hurt even more.

Being a coach means helping others improve. And while I often succeed, there are just as many times when I don’t.

When I reflect on why I (or we—the person and I) don’t succeed, I always arrive at the same conclusion: the mental approach to training isn't right. And in those moments, I’m not able to guide or inspire the person to place themselves in the right mental state to achieve true harmony between body and mind.

It’s not hard to understand, but it is hard to put into practice—especially for some people. The right mindset begins with an inner willingness: a readiness to do what’s necessary, not just what one wants. It also requires a clear and sincere internal intention—to truly want to do things well in order to improve.

When someone is genuinely mentally prepared, the body understands what is being asked of it. And then, the exercise or training session produces a positive effect—often better than expected.

A few days ago, La Vanguardia published an article with a provocative headline: “Are we sure physical exercise really prolongs life?”
After years and years of promoting the benefits of physical activity—and more recently, the benefits of strength training—where are we now? What should we believe?

The first condition for good physical and personal health is inner confidence—meaning our emotional core must be grounded in ideas or values that provide stability and peace.
Antoni Gelonch, in his article “In Praise of Confidence,” writes:

“To have confidence is to take responsibility for ourselves when misfortune or setbacks come our way.”
He also notes that doubting oneself and owning one’s actions are both expressions of confidence.

In short, “The one who has confidence maintains the same attitude, come rain, snow, or wind.”

So, is exercise good for you? The answer is yes—if it’s done in the right way and with the right mindset and intention.

Too often, we start exercising with a hidden motivation we’re not fully aware of.
But when our true intention is to be healthy so we can live as our authentic selves—and not driven by fear, escapism, or misguided competitiveness—then exercise becomes something essential to our health and well-being.