Mental Approach – You Have the Power: Part 2

Positive Thinking

Once you have set your goals and created a clear picture of the physique you wish to attain, it is inevitable that you will run into obstacles. However, you can’t let this defeat you in reaching your goals. Everyone has come across roadblocks at some point in their quest for success. You can’t let that stop you. Figure out how to go through them, climb them or go around them. Stay on track and committed to your goals. Having a positive attitude and how you deal with obstacles is 99% of the battle. So keep pushing forward and don’t lose sight of your goals.

Your attitude is what is going to carry you through to achieving what you want to accomplish. A common characteristic of bodybuilding champions is having a positive attitude. They can focus completely on achieving their goals and shut out any negative thoughts. They have total confidence in their ability to become champions, no matter how many times they fail or how long it takes. They don’t let other people’s opinions and negativity dissuade them from their dream.

Believe in yourself and don’t ever give up. If you feel like you are worthy enough to be where you want to be and do what you want to do in life, then go for it. Don’t let anything hold you back. Anything. You only have one life to live and it should be spent doing the things that make you happy. If you feel like you are worthy of the best life has to offer, you will have the best chance of having that vision become a reality. On the contrary, if you don’t think you’re worthy, you will make THAT vision of your life come true.

“All achievements, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea”, Napoleon Hill wrote. Energy follows thought. You should think about what you want in life, not about what you don’t want. What you focus on in life will expand and eventually will become a reality. Your thoughts and actions will lead you to where you feel you ought to be. You must focus on what you really want in life– not on what you think you can have. No matter what has happened to you in your past or what obstacles you have come face to face with, you must keep a positive attitude and work through it. If you think you are going to achieve your ultimate physique, you will. If you are convinced you cannot reach that level, you won’t.

You are where you are in life right now because of your way of thinking. Your way of thinking will dictate your actions and therefore determine your results. It is your thoughts that first lead you to any outstanding accomplishment or disappointing failure. Athletes, entertainers, artists, businessman, doctors, educators and politicians have all used the power of positive thinking to get them where they are today. Positive thinking can be applied to any life endeavor. Passion and enthusiasm toward any goal creates positive energy and becomes contagious.

Drive and Determination

Your will to succeed and drive forward comes from inside you. Nobody can do it for you; you have to want it to happen. People can give you advice and that’s all. It is your efforts and nobody else’s that will give you progress and success. Like Bruce Lee once said, “To know is not enough, we must apply”. You have to apply what you have learned on nutrition, training, goal setting and positive thinking in order to reach your goals. You can plan what you are going to do all you want, but if you don’t actually do it– nothing is going to happen.

The greater the adversity you must overcome in obtaining your goal, the greater the enjoyment you will experience. Know that everyone eventually experiences a setback or makes a mistake. We are going to fail one way or another as we travel along life’s path: we’re only human. It will all come down to your passion, your conviction, your desire to keep going and your refusal to quit. You’ll find a way to get around a setback if your heart is truly in it and you believe in yourself. No matter what knocks you down you just have to get back up again.

Trust your decisions and stand by them. Don’t suddenly doubt yourself if you trip up. Don’t let other’s pessimism dissuade you. Be patient and believe in your abilities. If you are persistent enough, you will eventually attain your goals. My formula for success has been hard work, self-confidence and positive thinking. Keep striving forward, no matter what happens. Realize you can do it. If you really want it– then go for it.

Mind in the Muscle

Going through the motions means nothing and you will achieve little results by doing this. You have to have what is called the "mind-muscle" connection. The ability to make this connection is something that is very difficult for many people to master. I feel that establishing this ability is what separates those that excel from those that don't. Focus on the muscle that you are working, not on the weight in your hands. Visualize how you want that muscle to look and concentrate on how it feels throughout the movements. This will allow you to establish the “mind-muscle” connection.

As a personal trainer, I often encountered clients who had difficulty establishing the “mind –muscle” connection. While training the back, they often gave me feedback on how they felt excertion more in their biceps than anything. I explained to them that they have to imagine their arms as simply hooks or links to the weight. Focus on pulling with your lat muscles. As their concentration grew and they gained more experience, they soon found it easy to grasp the “mind-muscle” connection. It is important that you are feeling the muscle being targeted and controlling the weight during each and every set you perform. Soon you won’t even have to think about it.

Fear of Failure

When you face challenges, it is always the mind that fails first, not the body. The fear of failing can get in the way of achieving success. This fear prevents you from trying really hard, releasing all of your energies and mustering up total motivation. Norman Peale once wrote, “If you put everything off until you’re sure of it, you’ll get nothing done.” You have to be willing to take risks and step away from being totally secure. Failure can actually be a good learning tool. It instructs which part of your plan is working and which is not, it defines limits for you. Do not fear to test your limits. There is an enormous amount of satisfaction that comes from stepping over your supposed limit.

Push yourself as far as you can go, until you run into a wall and can go no further. Attempt to make a lift you know will be a great struggle to make. What is the worse that can happen? You cannot get the weight up. If you can’t lift it at this point in time, keep working at it. Once you have experienced failure, you will know that much more about yourself and your training program. Then you can plan the next stage more intelligently. Knowing what worked and what didn’t work will allow you to grow from the experience.

After each workout, reflect back on how you felt while you trained. On a scale of one to ten, how was your intensity? Were you focused? How were your energy levels? Did you get the most you possibly could from each and every rep? What could you have done better? By performing a self-evaluation after each workout, you make yourself more accountable. A workout summary can teach you what went well and what you need to improve upon next time. Concentrating on maximizing your workout will maximize your gains.

You have to put yourself in uncomfortable situations and take risks. In fact, the only time you are actually growing in life is when you are uncomfortable. Making changes is not a walk in the park. We all possess the personal power required to make changes. Cultivate that power, you are in charge of your own life. You can change the quantity of personal power you possess, from weak to strong. Only you can decide which power flourishes within you. Before you attempt to make a lift, say to yourself, “this is going to go up” and don’t doubt it. Like Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman always says, “Light weight baby.” His personal power is so strong that he has absolutely no doubt that the weight is going to go up.

A Credo for Success

Seeing tremendous growth and change in yourself can help you attain a new and better life. Bodybuilding has taught me how to set and reach goals effectively. It has taught me the power of positive thinking and how to overcome adversity with determination. My self-esteem grew along with my muscles and I learned discipline and dedication. My work ethic became much stronger. I have been able to apply these same principles to other areas of my life as well– such as my work, education and personal relationships. I truly believe success in bodybuilding can teach you to become successful in anything in life.

When you utilize the power of your mind, nothing can stop you– you can accomplish anything. Albert Einstein claimed that you cannot achieve a new goal by applying the same level of thinking that got you to where you are today. Take these concepts and start applying them. Set your standards high and have no fear of failing during your pursuit of success.