I've recently been reading a book called Arete: Activate Your Heroic Potential by Brian Johnson, and it’s packed with timeless wisdom about ‘living well’.
The direct translation of Arete is ‘virtue’ or ‘excellence’, but it has a deeper meaning. Something closer to ‘expressing the best version of yourself moment to moment to moment.
While the book covers many aspects of personal growth, it really drives home a powerful idea that resonated with me and chimes with my professional experience.
Having strategies in place to optimise your physical and mental health is the most sure fire way to show up consistently, as your best self.
Here are a few takeaways that I think are especially useful if you're on a recovery journey, managing pain, or simply aiming to feel and function better:
1. Small wins lead to big changes
You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Small improvements, making better choices and taking better actions moment to moment, implemented with consistency, add up to major transformations over time.
✅ Doing your rehab exercises for 5 minutes daily beats doing them once a week for 30.
✅ Getting to bed a little earlier or drinking more water might seem small, but it matters.
2. Energy is your foundation
Your physical energy affects everything — mood, motivation, healing, even decision-making. The book emphasises the “fundamentals”: movement, sleep, nutrition, breath, and mindset.
✅ When you take care of your body, you’re better equipped to show up for life — and for your recovery.
3. Choose the next best action
You don’t need to be “motivated” all the time — you just need to make the next good choice. Whether that’s standing up and moving, doing one stretch, or booking a follow-up appointment, forward progress is built one step at a time.
✅ Ask yourself: What’s the next best thing I can do right now for my health? Then do that.
Final Thought:
You don’t need to wait until you feel “ready” or “perfect” to improve your health — you just need to start where you are, do what you can, and commit to showing up regularly. That’s what Arete is all about — and it’s a powerful mindset for recovery, movement, and life.