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I’m betting that nearly every body builder or anybody who set out todo something greater than themselves has faced these two monsters….1.) Motivation and 2.) Discipline. All of us has been living our lives like normal human beings and suddenly like a “THUNDERBOLT” an image or an inspirational thought hits us. This “THUNDERBOLT” has the term “life changing” written all over it. The idea that we should make a change and go in a brand new direction is both frightening and exhilarating at the same time. Somehow, we know that this possibility needs to be addressed. It haunts us day and night. For us bodybuilders the decision to start down this path is loaded with tons of reasons NOT to do it. It is here that we need to get alone. Decide you are going to do it. Then make that plan and get going. Getting started is a minefield for all of us who have made the commitment to head for the stage. Let me submit, at this point that getting started is the first valiant step. It takes tons of guts to begin something that is new and different. We set ourselves up for gratuitous derision for those who are closest to us. They see us as the guy or girl that they grew up with and they refuse to see us in any other light. We, on the other hand have been hit by the “THUNDERBOLT” and we have to respond and get going or reject it.
I just got this quote from a good friend of mine that is perfect for what we are talking about: “Cowards Never Started, the weak died along the way, and then there was US!”–Phil Knight, Shoe Dog.
Please note that “STARTING” takes real bravery that nobody can see. We have to put on our game face with every step we take to get onto the playing field. the “THUNDERBOLT” (epiphany) is where we start. It serves as the ‘MOTIVATION” to get us to “fix bayonets”and charge. To get after it. Amazing how a little hint from our world or our psyche or the Spirit can get us to do things we never dreamed of.
After we have responded to the ‘MOTIVATION” to “START” and we are on our way to the gym we have to develop a personal trait that will carry us to victory. That thing that will carry us is “DISCIPLINE.” We who train know exactly what we are talking about. We don’t miss workouts, we eat strangely, we take supplements, we do cardio, we practice posing, all with an eye toward the stage. Nothing gets in our way.
When I was 19 and in the Navy we got a patient onto our service at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He was a Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer and he had a nickname and they called him Gunner Wall, he earned this nickname in WWII when he was a door gunner on a bomber. During a single attack on the bomber by Japanese Zeros (fighters) Gunner shot down 11 planes from his position in the door of the bomber. His colleagues called each shoot down a “smoker.” Thus, was born Gunner Wall.
Gunner got me aside one day in a stairwell. I had told him that my older brother was a lifer in the Marine Corps. He stared at me for a moment as I told him about my brother whom I have great respect for. Then, he says with wide eyed enthusiasm, “Your brother should get out of bed every morning looking forward to doing his job. While standing in front of the mirror shaving he should get so excited about getting out there to do the job he’s been given with so much energy that he nearly cuts his own throat. After he gets his uniform on and squared away he should check himself in the mirror and again get so cranked up that he kicks the door open and leaves his quarters on fire to do his job.” I’ve never forgotten that blast of over the top “MOTIVATION.” Wow! This is how we should start.
The next level is to find that thing that keeps us going after we have burned through “MOTIVATION” is “DISCIPLINE!” We have got to recreate the path to the stage or whatever we choose to do in life on a daily basis. “MOTIVATION” get us started…..“DISCIPLINE” keep us going. It will carry us when we have the least amount of “MOTIVATION” to continue. Sometimes training will feel like we are just sleep walking but continuing is the order of the day.
Bottom Line for all of us is that we dare not be “Cowards and not Start at all when we know we should. We have to stay strong and avoid weakness during the journey and die. We have to remember that when the COWARDS and the WEAKLINGS fail to go on there will only be us left to win.
“MOTIVATION” gets us started. “DISCIPLINE” keeps us going — to move on to the stage and the win. In other situations these two principles will pay off by accomplishing the degree, getting the job, marrying that special guy or girl. Get Started and never stop!
Six Pack and Senior 