The mental toughness of a workout

Workouts suck a lot of the time. Pushing the body outside of what it’s used too isn’t nice or pretty. The idea of going training can be daunting, during the session it can feel horrible but the relief afterwards is always euphoric. It is THE symbol of life. Life can hit you hard, very hard. If you are willing to struggle, sweat and push yourself you can conquer that session like you conquer your daily, weekly, monthly, life goals. It may sound cheesy, it may sound like a shit motivation talk but if you can work in a gym you can gain the mental and physical toughness to work outside of it. So why do I work out?

The barbell is the one thing in life that won’t lie to you either positively or negatively. If you have 100kg on the bar its just that. Some days it will feel easy to lift on other days it feels like your back to day 1. On those days that it doesn’t go the way you want, you need to persevere. Realise that you won’t always have things go the way you want, its ok to fail on a lift. It’s not ok to never try that lift gain. Always work on improving yourself.

Persevere

Clarity is key. I think the clearest when I am either working out, writing in a coffee shop. I get in a zone (maybe not on the toilet, but definitely the other two) that I know I am in a space where I am working on myself both physically and mentally. We forget that we need to pay rent to ourselves. The rent that’s due is on our physical well being and mental growth. A lot of us are overdue on that rent. Always learn, always grow or remain stagnant and stay in a comfort zone with no room for growth or progression.

Push yourself

Discipline. You can’t half do a workout or your diet and expect a 6 pack in 2 months. Discipline and routine is the key to achieving results. However discipline and routine require effort and effort is required for results. Be comfortable working in the dark. That means putting in the effort when nobody else is watching. Show me work rate in the darkness and solitude of your own company rather than splatter the occasional workout of Facebook.

Have a goal

Goal set. Be hungry even if you have a full plate. Find out your goals that don’t need external motivation because your internal drive should be too loud to ignore. Whether its fitness, career or even family goals always stay hungry. If you have a budding goal compete against your own moral goals and standards. Look at yourself in the mirror and go I am satisfied with what I am doing. Be the best you but always do extra and never tap dance around the truth.

Be Happy

Enjoy the process. Life is to be enjoyed. Make sure that whatever goal or work you do, make sure you can enjoy it. Create your own happiness in the grind. For me it’s the small things. I like to interact with people. So that’s what I do. Even the days I’m feeling the solitude I make an effort to interact, because it gives me a smile.

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