From Useless to Unstoppable: How Fitness Builds Identity, Purpose, and Influence

Many people feel stuck in life because they believe they’re useless. That belief quietly becomes their identity: “I’m the kind of person who fails… who can’t change… who doesn’t matter.”

When that identity sets in, goals feel impossible. Purpose feels unreachable. Even looking in the mirror can feel like confirmation that the story is true.

But here’s the truth: identity isn’t fixed. You can rewrite it. And one of the most powerful ways to do that is through fitness.

Identity Is Stronger Than Willpower

Most people try to change by chasing outcomes: “I need to lose 20lbs” or “I want to run a 10k.” But when life gets hard, outcomes alone aren’t enough to keep you going.

What works long-term is identity.

Psychologists call this identity-based habits. James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, puts it simply: “Every action is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”

Instead of saying:

“I want to lose weight”

Say:

“I am someone who trains. I am someone who challenges myself. I am someone who grows physically and mentally.”

That shift is huge. You’re no longer fighting against a “useless” identity. You’re building a new one, one rep, one session, one choice at a time.

Perspective as a Tool, Not a Solution

Perspective helps break the “useless” trap:

Inward perspective: looking at your own life differently. Gratitude and reflection show you’re not as stuck as you think. Every small win, a heavier lift, a faster run, proves growth is possible.

Outward perspective: learning from others. Watching someone overcome challenges, or stepping into a powerlifting gym and seeing people stronger than you, can humble you, but also inspire you.

Gratitude practices increase resilience and life purpose. Healthy social comparison motivates growth. 

Fitness as Identity Training

Fitness isn’t just physical. It’s identity training:

Every time you train, you reinforce: “I am someone who shows up.”

Every rep builds proof: “I am someone who grows stronger.”

Every choice, water over soda, showing up tired, completing a workout, is a vote for the identity you want.

Identity outlasts motivation. Even when the mirror hasn’t changed, your new identity keeps you moving.

The Ripple Effect of Purpose

Purpose isn’t just personal. Your actions influence others.

My own story shows this clearly:

I started smoking at 13. My mother smoked, and later my siblings did too. I only quit at 23, while in the Army.

Drinking was normalized, too. I remember chugging a pint in the rugby clubhouse at 13 while dads and lads laughed. My family drank at home, and Army culture reinforced it.

When I moved to Canada, away from family and cultural influence, I stopped drinking. It wasn’t impossible; it was simply a matter of removing external pressures.

Now, when I train and live a disciplined, purpose-driven life, it influences my family in positive ways: my mom has lost significant weight, my dad has improved his health, and my son grows up seeing what a strong, capable adult looks like.

This is the ripple effect: your purpose can extend beyond yourself. By building strength, discipline, and a growth-focused identity, you model positive behaviours and normalize them for others. Helping others break cycles of negative habits can become part of your purpose.

A Plan to Reframe Identity and Build Purpose

Here’s how to move from “useless” to identity-driven purpose:

1. Reframe Your Identity

Drop “I’m useless.”

Replace with: “I am someone who trains. I am someone who challenges myself. I am someone who grows physically and mentally.”

2. Stack Small Wins

Focus on small, measurable actions: heavier lifts, consistent attendance, better nutrition choices. Each win proves your new identity is real.

3. Leverage Perspective

Learn from others who overcame struggles like yours. Step into environments that expand what you believe is possible: gyms, classes, or fitness communities.

4. Practice Gratitude Daily

Record one win or positive choice every day. Gratitude reinforces perspective and strengthens motivation.

5. Model Change for Others

Recognize your ripple effect. Your choices influence kids, family, friends, and teammates.

A purpose doesn’t have to be grand, it can be as simple as showing others what’s possible through your actions.

You don’t have to accept “useless” as your story. Identity and purpose are built, not found. Through fitness, perspective, and consistent small wins, you can become someone who trains, grows, and leads by example.

And when you do, your purpose naturally extends beyond yourself, influencing others, breaking cycles, and showing that actions, not excuses, define who we are.

Change starts small, with the right actions repeated over time. That’s where coaching makes all the difference. Book a call with me or one of our coaches at www.masterathletic.com and we’ll create a plan that fits your life and goals.

Nat Galloway

Coach, Master Athletic Performance