When I lose my training, I lose my focus
I was recently asked why it is so important to me to get strong.
I took a while to think about this question. When I finally had an answer, I knew it was the right one for me.
“It’s important to me because the pursuit of strength leads to all kinds of improvements I never could have guessed at. By chasing strength, I get strong, but the physical strength is rarely the primary benefit.”
I would even go so far as to suggest that I’m not the only one who benefits from my strength training. My wife might tell you that she gets the most out of it.
No, it’s not because I look good or have amazing hip thrust, although I hear that those are good things. I’ve never met a woman who says “I’m just looking for a guy who can bottoms up press a 48 kilo kettlebell, is that too much to ask?”
It’s more because I’m more confident, I’m happier, I have less stress, and so on…If you love to train, you know what I’m talking about.
And all of this stuff makes me easier to live with. It makes me a better companion. A better friend. I’m more useful to myself and that makes me more useful to others. I’m happier, so I’m usually not the one bringing others down with a negative outlook.
And when I can’t train, I’m not as agreeable, which I’m working on, with highly variable rates of success.
As Mark Rippetoe said:
Strong people are harder to kill than weak people, and more useful in general.
Don’t get me wrong–being strong is a lot of fun. But strength goes well beyond the weight on the bar. It is all of those other intangibles that make me love it so much. And the people I meet because of it.
I am The Movement.
Josh Hanagarne
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Agreed; I feel much less risk-averse when physical strength increases (some studies back this up experimentally, but I don’t want to look them up right now) and more relaxed in general.
I am improving always. Life is good.
I am the movement.
Josh
i have been thinking like that as well, in order for me to be the best father husband and person i need to be strong i owe it to myself and i love it. it makes me happy. excellent write my friend hope all is well with you and i enjoy reading what you write thanks josh