When it comes to being a strength athlete there are many things that come into play such as where you lift, do you have a team or train alone, what equipment you have, and what your support system is like. I have had countless times when people hear about the fact I like to lift weights for fun and they scrunch their face, tilt their head sideways and say “Why exactly?” Why do you do what you do? Where is your drive coming from and what keeps you going on the days you just want to stay in bed? I’ll begin by telling you my own story and my WHY.
Growing up I was always surrounded by health, sports, and fitness. My father Donald “Rocky” Smith has always been an avid outdoorsman who has also been into the sport of bodybuilding his whole life. Some of his bodybuilding highlights were first place in Mr. New England in the 1970’s (I think it was 1973 if I’m correct) as well as a brief showing in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s movie “Pumping Iron.” He always took pride in being an all natural athlete while out-flexing the big dogs who were also on big drugs. Growing up in that environment he always told me health should come first because there is no point if your body can’t work for you later. Outside of the gym he would take me fishing, skiing, hiking, swimming, mountain biking, running you name it, that’s what we did for fun. My father always believed in training the body but first, training the mind. He would always diligently do his transcendental meditation twice a day, take his vitamins, juice his vegetables, go to the gym and go to work. Witnessing that lifestyle really made a big difference for me in my life because being a young boy I had the fortune to look up to a strong Dad. Now looking back I can appreciate how active I was growing up, and a lot of that stemmed from my home life thanks to both of my parents supporting me in the trifecta of “Mind, Body, Spirit.” Through modern psychology we can see how childhood has a very strong effect in our lives, and for me, this is a perfect example of that.
Now let’s discuss the evolution of the “WHY.” When I hit high school and college many of my friends were athletes so they were training in their sports diligently. I was into playing baseball and sprinting on the track team. There were plenty of people who were better than me but I was just there to have fun, work hard, and try to get myself to succeed. Fast forward post high school, post college everyone has grown up. The athletic sports are over, the big dreams of being a professional athlete ended, and the life of spinning the wheels for the man set in. I was always a good athlete but my big break didn’t even start until after I graduated from college (where many of my other friends, that was the peak of their athletic career). Being a small guy I was always trying to work harder, train harder, all while keeping the “big picture” in mind. My lifestyle of “the strength athlete” was just beginning to unfold and I feel that it still is even today. Now that many of my friends and peers (not all) have lost their sports teams, coaches and started to “settle down” their athleticism and fitness has seemed to fall to the wayside. With that said, I have other friends and peers who have come through the woodwork and have begun to flourish physically like I have in my life.
So what is it about this idea that we call “the evolution of the why?” The presence of intrinsic motivation is the secret. This is where as athletes and coaches, we always need to figure out the individual’s “WHY.” When we have set goals and guidelines, we can use those in order to push through times that are difficult and challenging. For me my “Why” to train hard has always been to be healthy, and its the way I always bonded and felt closest to my father, and to simply have fun doing something I enjoy. Therefore, I want to do it on the days I feel great and I have the motivation to do it on the days I feel like shit because it is an outlet, an oasis and a safe space to be myself. So if intrinsic motivation is what drives us, THAT is what we need to grasp for ourselves. If your value is “I want to look good on the beach” that’s very valid for some people, however looks do fade over time. So if you walk into the door for that reason, maybe you will find a new reason like, “hey my mood is better, I feel less stressed, I feel like I can think clearly, or I don’t feel the need to punch my boss every morning anymore, I don’t need to depend on caffeine as much because I’m not as lethargic when I wake up.” These “WHY’s” obviously have the capacity to run a little deeper for people and they can have a longer lasting effect. When it comes down to it, when your sports are over, when the high school glory days fade, what is the new reason and motivation that will give you the drive to pick yourself up and keep going forward?
Let’s be real here for a minute. There will never be a point to doing something if you don’t enjoy it. Let me repeat it. THERE WILL NEVER BE A POINT TO DOING SOMETHING IF YOU DON’T ENJOY IT. This is not only a lesson in strength training, this is a lesson for life. We are all given one opportunity to live the life we are in right now. When we find the motivation that brings us satisfaction beyond money, beyond materialism, beyond what our family or friends or peers want for us, then we will find our reason. If you find this type of reason and motivation to train day in and day out, you will not only be successful, you will rise to the absolute peak of your potential and you will sustainably flourish well beyond what you even realized what you were capable of. Train for yourself first, this is your chance for YOU time. Use it wisely and make it work for you. If you put in the work and challenge your boundaries, nothing can stop you from working toward your goal.