I was recently talking (and listening) to my coach, Justin Dees about various aspects of the sport of bodybuilding. He said, “in this sport, because we do not control so many aspects of the competition, we have only one objective. To come to the stage each and every contest with a “BETTER YOU.”
This simple truth was liberating. I, like many of our colleagues in the sport, think that if we don’t win or finish high in the judging we have failed or that we are not worthy to be part of the contest. The psychological, emotional, and spiritual low that follows being “set aside” by the judges can be devastating and downright destructive. When we take on the reality that we did not measure up, we make up excuses designed to make us feel better but none of which changes the outcome. We self-depricate and demean ourselves for not being more disciplined. We blame the judges for bias and outright favoritism. We create inside ourselves a narrative that supports a “VICTIM” mindset. Our personna becomes that poor wretched oppressed soul who was so severely wronged. Been there! Done that! and I, for sure, Got the T-Shirt! Ugggh!
This sport is about continuous improvement, advancement, holding our own and walking away with the greatest trophy God can bestow upon us here in this physical world—-the magnificent physique that we forge in the crucibles of training in the gym, proper dieting, proper supplementation, long arduous hours of aerobics, personal study of techniques and the sport, and daily posing. Our trophy will be taken with us everywhere we go. People will admire your trophy hundreds of times between shows as we pound it into the shape and appearance that will yield the best results. We should never lose track of this gigantic perk.
Another great trophy is the courage it takes to be one of the elite who put in the hours and then put it all out there to be the best. Somebody recently pointed out to me that of the thousands of men who would like to be on stage, I was one of the few who prepared and did it. There is an old saying that is befitting to this situation and I repeate it often, “Some men die in BATTLE, some men go down in FLAMES, but most men perish in-by-inch, who play in little GAMES.” This quote illustrates the necessity to become consummate professionals in our own right. To be successful you have to decide that we are willing to “DO WHAT IT TAKES” to be successful. “PLAYING IN LITTLE GAMES” only allows you to live a meaningless and dishonest life ending only in death with no lasting contribution to yourself, your family, and the world.
Lastly, the trophy of “BRINGING A BETTER YOU” to each contest. This goal is all we have in this sport actually. Nobody can do the work for you. Nobody can generate the “WANT TO” inside you to make you get up in the morning and look forward to a life of absolute personal discipline aimed at self-mastery and improvement. This odyssey is ours/mine alone. Each day of traing (6 days per week) carves, shreds, etches, and shapes your body (trophy) into the masterpiece you desire. Maybe you will win at the next show or maybe you will get blown away in the judging by others who simply out worked you or who were more genetically gifted than you. In the final analysis I have four goals for each contest: 1.) Be in the best shape of my life that night. 2.) Hold my own. Be so good that I can be proud of my efforts in the midst of great men. In short, be respected. 3.) Move up in the placement among my competitors. 4.) Accomplish the small things that me and my coach, Justin Dees have agreed that I must be better at.
If I do these things then I am a winner. I am “LIBERATED” in the sense that I have to worry about only me. One day or many days there will be convergence and I willl win. But, until then, I can enjoy the constant positive refinements that I make to my body and enjoy the multiple side benefits of knowing I am “MY BEST ME” always——and I’m bringing it to the next show.
I write these things also for your benefit. Take from these lessons the cool stuff that will provide and way forward for your goals to be accomplished.
See you again real soon! Remember! THIS IS OUR TIME and we dare not squander them by living “below the level of mediocrity.”–John MacArtur.
Six Pack and Senior 