Training has always been about more than just muscles. Ask anyone who’s been consistent in the gym, and they’ll tell you that the reason they keep showing up isn’t just physical, it’s mental. Walking into the gym and finishing a workout is something you can fully control, and in a world that feels unpredictable, that sense of agency is powerful. Exercise also changes your brain chemistry by boosting endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, the chemicals that regulate mood, motivation, and stress.