Strength is an Attitude

In it’s current state, my deadlift sucks. It’s a shell of what it used to be.

Naturally, I’ve been looking at reasons to explain away my weakness. Here’s a glimpse into my self talk over the past year when I’ve deadlifted:

Maybe it’s because my sleep hasn’t been very good for the past 2 1/2 years. But then again, my sleep was never really that good.

Maybe it’s because the deadlift platform at the gym is playing with my load and ability to push through my feet. No, you deadlifted 535 right before the COVID lockdown. I’m pretty sure it’s fine.

Maybe it’s because I stopped squatting heavy? Hey, when did I ever really squat heavy? laughs uncontrollably

Then one day I realized: maybe my weakness is this constant self talk and course correcting. In other words, my weakness is trying to explain away my failures. Maybe it’s really this simple: I don’t deadlift with the same intensity, tenacity, and grit that I used to.

Strength is not a number. It’s an attitude.

I’ve looked internally for reasons why I’m not progressing on my deadlift. Maybe it’s the forced time away from the COVID lockdowns last year. Or it’s the fact that my sleep isn’t what it used to be. Or maybe it’s something with our deadlift platform that’s impacting my lift.

Or it’s the obvious: maybe I’m just not treating them with the intensity that I used to.

Alas, I think I found my answer.

There’s no one to blame - good to bad - for a lift. Results are binary. Either you did it, or you did not. And if you’re serious

The reason why I do what I do is that physical strength translates - to mental strength,

Someone who is strong looks for reasons, opportunities, and blank to succeed.

Someone who is weak looks for reasons to extol themselves, or their actions (looking at you, certain politicians).

Someone didn’t make you mad, you made yourself mad in how you perceived their actions.