To be able to truly enjoy the fruits of one's labors is in reality the one and only gift available to man. All others stem from vanity. In other words, an attempt in creating a favorable self-image in the eyes of others.
Anything one does in this world is for nothing or anyone else but oneself. Even the giving of alms to the poor revolves around doing something for the self-enjoyment the deed contains for the doer of the action.
Do you begin to grasp what I have been saying?
No?
Well, I shall digress further.
Why, for instance, does the average man give to a favorite charity? Well, as in all things dealing with man, this is a very complicated situation to try to explain within a few short sentences. Perhaps this man who gives so "generously" to the said charity is doing so in order to escape "judgement" on himself, by himself and by others, on the other "shadier" aspects of his life. How many men who seem to rush down the street in order to aid a blind man to cross, really feel that in a sense, they, too, are "blind" and in aiding him they are really aiding themselves. Are not most quiet, kind and generous people quite beside themselves with inner joy when a gracious remark is made concerning their felicities? Do we not do good deeds predominantly for the inner peace they bring?
My friends, what I have been trying to say all along is that on the whole, whatever man does, he does for himself.
Now, what does all this psychological "nonsense" have to do with you?
More than you realize; much more than you realize, because if you begin to see that all you do, every basic step you take, comes from an inner yearning, obliging to none other than yourself, you will, sooner or later, also come to the conclusion that most of these "self-decisions" evolve around your attempt at physical culture training and even more deeply, it concerns training for bulk and power.
I put this to you . . .
Since we are all men, living in a world dominated and controlled by men, do not other men's regards for us play an important part in our psychological makeup? But if this is so, then how does an intelligent man like yourself for instance, ostracize himself from the rest of the "community" and seek emotional and physical relief in the acquiring of the ability to perform certain athletic movements with an iron bar, seven feet long, with big black iron plates on each end?
Why, he does this because of his "spiritual indifference" as I would term it, for want of a better word. He does not "play" at the same games as other "boys" his age. He has no time for gambling; he can't possibly keep up the necessary hours for "partying," and the thought of drowning oneself in a liquor bottle makes him nauseous. No, this type of human being is resting his emotional outlook on a higher, different plane. He is, in short, an artist, a creative type of man. But instead of using the usual artist's tools, he uses the greatest natural tools that God has given him: his body and his mind!
To such a man, his body is a sacred possession. It deserves the constant observing that it receives all that is necessary in order for it to grow and prosper. Just as he would be sure to obtain for it warm, comfortable clothing in the winter, so would he also see to it that it receives the proper fuel in order for it to function properly. Just as he would not allow himself to leap into the face of danger for a mere whim or fancy, neither would he allow himself the normal felicities which most men partake in, knowing quite well the dangers they invoke to his bodily health.
This type of man exists in a swirling mist which envelops his entire being. And in the midst of this mist lies the most important of his daily tasks: the development of a powerful and massive body.
Oh, there is quite a bit more to it than that!
If he is married, his wife and family fit into the picture as well as a few close friends and business associates, for this type of man knows well that "man must exist by the fruits and toils of his labors" and besides, when one of these most important institutions falls out of whack, he cannot use, must fully, his great artistic gift. He cannot concentrate enough to produce accordingly.
Many, many misguided souls try to live only in one's "spiritual orb" as it were. And whether this mono-faceted existence can finally fulfill one's main desire or not, does not excuse one from his neglect of his spiritual, emotional and social commitments which are bestowed upon us, upon each and every one of us, at the moment of birth.
Yes, it is in living in accord with our inner consciences that we are finally able to produce and promote ourselves to the level of our maker's intention. And if, for certain individuals like you and I, an important part of the spiritual, yet all to human "coming of age" involves training for physical excellence, in one way or another, then I feel it should only serve as a great mediator in the rounding of our lives, and as a counterbalance, if you please, in the development of our entire existent spectrum.
It is possible, by using such statements as guides, to discover for your self that your physical shortcomings are not the "devilish traps" fate had put in store for you, as you might once have felt; no, quite the contrary, for the man with the proper mental attitude, such shortcomings are, in actuality, blessings in disguise. For is not the greatest enjoyment in striving for our goals? Do we not feel a twinge of regret immediately after obtaining one of the things we felt for quite a long time was most important to us?
Why, if this be the case, then such adversities which we at first glance looked upon in a negative sense, become for us in reality our "salvation." In short, they (our physical shortcomings) will enable us to enjoy a more intense, involved and totally more exciting adventure as we attempt to pass them by, and in our wake cast them asunder.
Putting it in simpler form, you should not "hate" yourself for being such a poor bench presser, when for the life of you you long to be able to bench heavy weights. Why, the very reason that you are a poor bench presser will make you even more happy when you are finally able to, after much diligent practice and sacrifice, obtain at least a small proportion of your initial goal.
If, on the other hand, you were very good at everything, but most especially every lift that you tried, how then would you instill within yourself that deep desire so necessary for conquest? The very thought of you, in this much "preferred" state trying to "knock yourself out" over anything would be ludicrous. That is why so many "naturals" fall by the wayside after having made such an outstanding impression initially. They become bored with it all. The spark of accomplishment was never lit within their souls because they never had to "fight" for anything; they were never really happy or satisfied with themselves when they had done the very same thing that, if it happened to you, would set your very soul on fire!
I knew a guy like this once. He had everything: looks, personality, charm. Everything and everybody favored him; even the dogs and cats on the street. He was a neat dresser, a good dancer, and a very successful "ladies man." In school he was chosen "most likely to succeed." His I.Q. was pretty near 150. He had no trouble at all getting into college; in fact, in the second semester of his first year, he was already in the top quarter of the class, and his success in weight training was no different than the success in his entire life.
Everything he did with the weights worked right for him. Even though his bench presses looked atrocious to the eye, he still developed gigantic pectorals. Even though he ate like a pig, never once caring just what kind of food went into his stomach, he still developed himself into a massive, muscular marvel.
In a matter of six months after he began training, he had already gained some forty pounds of useful flesh. Such a "natural" was he that at the age of sixteen he was able to "cheat curl" over 225 pounds. His bench press was quickly approaching the 300-pound mark and all this was done at a bodyweight of 175 and a height of 5'11".
Such a fellow is most lucky - would you say, "Gee, I wish I were he," or, "Boy, some guys have all the luck." I know, this is the way I felt at the same time when I would watch my buddy working out in my cellar and toying with weights that I could not budge. And the outcome? Where is he now?
Well, a short time ago he died of an overdose of heroin. It was a shock to everyone in the neighborhood, but not for me, for although I was very hurt by the thought of losing such a dear and close childhood friend, his outcome was no great shock. How could he even begin to enjoy the simplicities of life with mental ability such as his? The everyday little things which mean so much to us more normal people left him with a feeling of boredom. In reality, there was nothing he could really appreciate as being his own. His studies came easy, so he could not even fall back on scholastic aptitude, as so many intellectuals do. His training, as all other aspects of his life, was merely something to "play" at. In it he did not receive any great inner joy. In life he found no inner peace. What else was there to do? He had to enjoy himself somehow; at least with narcotics he could erase, for a time, the loneliness and frustration of his life; at least with narcotics he could escape that "internal laughter" such a man must certainly have felt, for all his intelligence and superior intellect he could not escape that one thing that was haunting him for his entire life; he could not escape gthe desire to enjoy whatever it was that he was to do.
Rather sad, don't you agree?
And this is why I tell you, my friends, to look to your adversities and shortcomings as stepping stones to future greatness and success. For with this in mind you will be able to enjoy your "wonderful" training even more (and I do, most certainly, feel that weight training, particularly power and bulk training, is most wonderful). For in your initial shortcomings will lie your hope for future greatness, which if you do not even nearly attain, the road was hard and weary, but the journey was sublime.
And how are you to pattern such a "positive" philosophy into your daily training?
Just how do you make yourself ENJOY the exercises which give you the most trouble? How do you manage to look upon your underdeveloped body as a sort of future "soul-saving" bank book?
Well, for the most part, it is not easy. I would prefer you to try to train yourself, for a while at least, until this most proper train of thought becomes almost second nature to you.
If you must train at a commercial gym, then let no one interfere with your routine. If you have to, go into a corner by yourself, and once you begin to train, let nothing interfere with your concentration. This is not only the key to your mental success at such an endeavor, but also it will enable you to concentrate all your creative powers on the task at hand, and this in turn will give back to you faster gains. You will be amazed at how fast such workouts will go when you concentrate the way I am going to show you. Before you know it the last set will be done and it will be time for you to go. This, then would be the opportune time for you to begin conversing with your friends at the gym. Now is the time for you to relax; now your work is done - you can enjoy yourself.
Fifteen minutes before you begin any workout, I want you to do the following thing:
Go over to a flat exercise bench and lie on it with your arms behind your head and with both your eyes closed. Now I want you to concentrate on the first exercise that you are going to perform in your routine. If it happens to be squats, and if you happen to dislike doing squats, then you should try to imagine all the physical steps which are involved in squatting, going over each and every one of them in your mind.
Imagine yourself going over to the squat rack; you adjust your lifting belt, making sure it is comfortably tight, you check both sides of the bar to make sure the weight is correct and that there are two collars on.
Now you place both hands upon the bar, at a comfortable distance, and with one quick dip you are standing under the squat rack with the bar upon your shoulders.
Now you take two or three short steps backwards and you are finally in position to perform the squatting movement.
After taking three deep breaths you begin to descend into the full squat position. On the way down you keep your eyes pasted on some object on the wall in front of you, glancing upwards in order to maintain your correct balance. As you hit rock bottom you can feel the powerful squeezing sensation you notice all through your waist and hip area. This is due to the heavy weight on your shoulders pushing you down, and to the tightness of the lifting belt.
Once at the bottom position you begin at once to tighten your buttocks and thighs and to push with all your might to once again stand erect. As the bar begins its journey upward, nothing else is in your mind besides rising with this weight.
About midway you begin to feel slightly dizzy and it is here that you begin to release your breath.
Finally, in one spastic movement you push yourself erect, and all at once the lift is accomplished; you feel the "white moment" of success, and the bar is placed very gently upon the rack.
Now, if you can concentrate upon this for at least ten or fifteen minutes, you will have brought yourself into a positive state, and I can assure you will, on whatever day you use this method, have a most important and result-producing workout.
"It begins with the humility to acknowledge our limitations
and the courage to choose the harder, better road."
Herecles' Delemna: Is Strength Really a Virtue:
Enjoy Your Lifting!
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