If there’s one word which sums up what we do at RNT, it’s transformation.

If you come into the world of RNT, you enter one dedicated to transformation. This goes beyond any physical change. True transformation is more than just the physical. The physical is only the first layer of our bigger mission: to see a world transformed.

It’s where our work begins. It’s the foundation, anchor and vehicle. Our work starts with teaching the power of mastering the physical body to achieve greatness and be a leader in all areas of life.

There’s nothing better than hearing from a client of ours, “I’m doing things I never thought I would because of everything I’ve learnt and applied through the journey”. The journey breeds confidence, focus and control to magnify everything in life: health, career and relationships.

But what is true transformation, and how does it happen? If the physical change is only one layer of a transformation, what constitutes the rest?

What Is Transformation?

Transformation is an evolution of self. It starts from within. It begins with introspection in an individual and/or collective. Once the muck is identified, the journey begins through action.

The transformation journey is an evolving process of rewiring the behaviour, mindset and identity of a being. It’s a continuously challenging process of self-mastery. Somewhere along the journey, you shed the skin to reveal a new being. The caterpillar becomes the butterfly. You reach a new checkpoint and realise permanent internal change. But the growth never stops. Introspection of the new core begins. Action is taken. Transformation continues.

In Hinduism, Lord Shiva is the God of Transformation, aptly known also as the Creator and Destroyer. His responsibility is to destroy the universe at the end of each cycle to allow for new creation. His forms are multiple and his roles are universal, as he embodies potential for life in an all-encompassing nature – including the soul, consciousness, mind, body and overall being.

If we apply this to the transformation we know, it’s exactly the same. With shorter cycles (a few years vs millions), there is a continuous destruction of one’s self to make way for new creation. A new body is only one layer. It activates a vehicle inside of you to accelerate this destruction-creation cycle across multiple facets in your life.

The Transformation Formula 

The formula for transformation is simple, yet extremely difficult.

Every phase of any transformation journey begins with introspection. This is the examination of your own conscious thoughts, feelings, observations. It’s asking the hard questions and exploring the muck within. You have to look inward and dive deep into where you are now, where you want to go, and who you want to become. This process is brutal. It will tear you apart and force you into places you will feel uncomfortable in. That’s okay. Every time you get the urge to pull away, lean in. That’s where the raw materials of your transformation lie. We call it the ‘why’.

Here are some questions you can use at this stage:

• Why have I decided to embark on this transformation journey?
• Why have I got to this state?
• What is my why behind my why?
• How will this (physical) transformation be the vehicle for the greater good in my life?
• Who do I want to identify as in the long-term?
• What are the checkpoints along the way?

Expect these questions to bring up muck you’ve not explored in years. Expect the answers to start ‘surface level’ and get deeper as you continue. While introspection is the start of the journey, it’s also the underpinning. It continues, evolves and transforms in and of itself as you act on the muck, and repeat the cycle.

Ironically, this act of introspection happens subconsciously for many. A lack of self-awareness can trigger introspection at a level most don’t realise is happening. `If for example, you take the big step of beginning a transformation journey without consideration on the above questions, it’s likely you’ve just yet to formalise the answers consciously. Which is why the Grind stage in phase two of our journey is where this often all comes to the surface. On limited resources and plenty of opportunity to self-reflect, all of the muck starts bubbling, where you’re given no choice but to confront the questions.

That’s where the first layer of transformation is often realised. You combine newly realised conscious thought with ongoing progressive action to activate the vehicle that propels you into transforming. That’s where an aha is often realised, new potential is unlocked, and you’re a new person. We call this the first Transformation Checkpoint.

It’s important to realise though that this only truly happens if the introspection happens at the correct level. Surface level thought won’t cut it. To truly go from caterpillar to butterfly, it needs to be uncomfortably deep. You need to go to a dark place and destroy the old self to become new. Otherwise, you will only achieve a temporary change, not a transformation – and you’ll revert to square one.

That’s why the journey we have is laid out as it is. If it finished at the first checkpoint, we’d merely be a world of temporary change. What comes next crystallises the first layer (Consolidation) and then scopes out the next layer (Investment) of building 2.0.

Every level has another devil. Which is why this journey has no end date, or expiry. When you go to a new level, you must begin the introspective process again, and ask the hard questions in a new context. You now have the ability to access deeper levels of muck and resilience to face tougher answers. You generate the potential to transform at a greater level with the right action. This is where it goes beyond the physical. It becomes about your mental state, high performance and consideration for your greater purpose. The vehicle is in motion, and it’s going at full speed to facilitate new transformation.

Why Action Matters 

The formula is clear. Introspection + Action = Transformation. You need both. You can introspect and face all the muck, yet go nowhere without action. Action is what allows you to remove the muck. It’s what enables you to rewire your identity, behaviour and mindset. Without action, you’ll spin your wheels. Introspection needs action to facilitate a transformation. You have to do the work and solve the problems you’ve identified in the introspective process. This can be scary. You will face resistance and the urge to stay as you are. You will be tempted to fall back to your old ways. The comfortable norm. If introspection provides all the raw materials, action is the glue to bring it all together to create something new. You must take the leap.

That said, action without introspection is a recipe for disaster. All you’ll get is temporary change, and all the raw materials will fall apart in a few days. Action needs an underpinning, a filter and a guide. It needs direction, purpose and mission. Which is why taking fast action, and being known as an ‘action taker’ is only a badge worth wearing if you’re taking it with a strong underpinning of why.

The Transformation Journey Never Ends

At RNT, we use the physical as the vehicle to drive the first layer of our greater mission and vision: to see a world transformed. A critical differentiator in our method of delivery is that the journey never ends. There’s no on or off switch – it’s a continuous process designed to test you to be a little better every day. Life will always get in the way of the process of transforming. Transformation isn’t meant to be easy. If it was, we’d be living in a much better world. We believe everyone should experience the power of transformation. It’s why we exist.

The ability to repeatedly introspect and act to upgrade your being is something that everyone owes to themselves to be the best for everyone around them. The world would be a much better place if transforming was a priority. Unfortunately, the ‘busy-ness’ of life means it often slides down the priority list. Yet the ones who suffer as a result are not only the claimed busy one, but all the loves ones in their inner circle.

Imagine a world where everyone strived for self-mastery, and continuous transformation. Repeating the destruction and creation cycle over years, decades and life times. It doesn’t take up all of your days, it’s a small piece of a greater puzzle that cascades into everything you do. All you need to start with is some space to think. Space to get away from the day to day and introspect. If you go deep enough, you’ll uncover the muck you need act on. If you ask the right questions and have the courage to act on it, you’ll be inspired to transform. ‘Busy-ness’ won’t be on your radar as you know you owe it to yourself and everyone around you to lean into your journey.

Read In Between The Lines

Our methodology transcends the fitness industry in its capability to transform. From individuals, to organisations, to industries, to the world, the five phase journey is designed to facilitate transformation. Writing this article has been a cathartic reflection tool that sums up my own recent experience of the cycle of destruction and creation with RNT as an organisation. The journey goes beyond fitness only, with business being arguably the closest link. It’s scary what asking the hard questions of an organisation can bring up. The muck that bubbles isn’t pleasant. But it’s needed to realise a transformation to a new state.