How I Learned To Live From The Inside Out

Hey there. I think a lot about what people pick up from my content. Not just the things I say directly, but the subtle things that show up over time. We all absorb more than we realize. When you follow someone or a brand or a message, you naturally gravitate toward certain things. Some are obvious. Others are quieter but end up having the biggest impact. That is what I want to talk about in this post. What you are getting from me. What I hope you are taking with you. And what I hope sticks long after you close the app.

When I think about the messages I repeat often, they are usually about living an inside/out life. I want you to look in the mirror and see more than your body. I want you to see yourself. I want you to trust that you will figure things out, no matter how messy life gets. That applies to fitness. It also applies to work, relationships, and the way you move through the world. You have already lived through hundreds of things that once felt impossible. You have figured out so much. You can trust that you will keep doing that.

There is another layer to this though. The stuff you pick up from me that I may not always say out loud. I genuinely believe I will figure out whatever I am navigating. I choose confidence. And I want that confidence to rub off on you. The funny thing is, if you look at the stereotype of what a confident guy is supposed to look like, I miss every box. I am under six feet tall. I am bald. I am middle aged. I have a physical disability that impacts most of my body. None of those things scream confidence to society. But the way I carry myself comes from years of connecting with who I am and not trying to fit into someone else’s idea of who I should be.

For years, I tried to blend in. I tried to fit the mold. But with cerebral palsy, there is always something that sets me apart. At first, that felt like a downside. I later realized it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. It forced me to build my own identity instead of trying to copy someone else’s. That is what I want for you too. I want you to be comfortable in your own skin. I want you to embrace who you are. I want you to live an inside/out life instead of a life built for approval.

I also want you to become someone who has a plan but does not let planning hold you hostage. Planning matters. It gives you direction. But the first step is always the most important one. Take it. And when you hit a roadblock, which you will, I want you to see opportunity instead of failure. What is this situation trying to show me. What am I missing. How can I grow from this. That mindset changes everything in fitness and everywhere else.

When it comes to fitness specifically, I want you to build an active lifestyle that you actually enjoy. Not the one you were told to love. Not the one Instagram says is perfect. You start with what you like or what you are willing and able to do. Then you build from there. There is no finish line. There is no perfect plan. There is only the life you are creating.

And I want you to live that lifestyle with zero guilt. Your food choices are your food choices. Your workouts or your rest days are what they are. You are not a good or bad person because of them. You are a human being doing the best you can. You deserve to feel confident and capable without carrying judgment everywhere you go.

Every so often, I like to check in with myself by asking you to check in with me. So if you are picking up something from my content, whether it is something I say or something you feel, I want to hear from you. Email me anytime at daryl@yourlevelfitness.com. I want to know what messages are landing for you and how you are applying them to your own process.

If you are ready to take the next step and want personalized guidance, I would love to work with you. Join one of the service levels inside The YLF Experience. You deserve support that helps you build a life you feel connected to.