Monday Motivation 3/6

I’ve spent all weekend at the Arnold Sports Festival inspired by 15,000 athletes from 80 countries competing in 60 different sports.

It’s one of my favorite weekends of the year because it helps people find their love of fitness. With things you’d expect, like strongman and bodybuilding and weightlifting, to things you wouldn’t like ballroom dance or tag or medieval fighting, we really do have a sport for everyone.

I love going around and talking to all the athletes I can because you notice a common theme: everyone has faced obstacles, from the professionals and world record holders to the amateurs and weekend warriors. And their sport has taught them that obstacles are part of life, not something to be miserable about.

Whether they’ve been injured, defeated, or gone through mental struggles, they have all learned that pain isn’t the end of the world; it’s often the beginning of growth. But you have to think that way.

I’ve talked about arriving in America and immediately losing Mr. Universe and crying all night. What defines that memory for me now isn’t the loss or the crying; it’s finding the lessons in my pain so that I could grow.

In the moment, it can feel like the pain is all there is. But if you take a step back, you can see what it has to offer. Almost every athlete I spoke to this weekend talked about the obstacles they faced with almost the same joy they showed when they showed off their medals and trophies. Because those moments made them.

And it doesn’t have to be a physical obstacle. I connected with a member of our little village, Ian, who has been testing my workouts for the app we are building. He’s a retired police officer who faced his own mental health issues. He said that working his way out of those wasn’t easy. I am proud of him for the way he’s inspiring others to confront their problems and accept help. And he crushed his competition this weekend.

Ian had a message for all of you:

“I want to let anyone who is struggling in any way, whether it be physically, emotionally, or mentally, that finding a way to push yourself through the darkness is possible.

When I went into treatment for job-induced (law enforcement) mental illness, no matter how hard the day was, I always found a way to get down on the floor and do push-ups. The gym in my police department had Arnold’s “Bodybuilding Encyclopedia,” and the other officers and I would refer to it as we did our best to stay fit and strong for the shift ahead.

Once I came out of treatment, I began training regularly and connected with Daniel and Adam from Arnold’s team, and they have pushed me to be the most physically and mentally fit in my life. For that, I will be forever grateful.

And Arnold, thank you…it was nice to meet my fitness hero. I hope we meet again. For everyone else, you can get through this. Take little steps, and you’ll find your way out of the darkness toward the light. Some days it might just be a few push-ups. There is always a way through the obstacles we face.”

That’s what we do is all about: working together to be better every day.

This week, I’m sure a lot of you are going to face an obstacle. My challenge to you is to try to step back. Don’t get lost in thinking that this is the end of the world. Try to see what it might be the beginning of. Try to find the lessons and the growth. Try to find the first steps you can take toward the light.

I promise you, they’re there.