Many athletes have goals and aspirations of reaching a level of success that is reserved for the elite. Yet, many of these individuals are ignorant of one simple fact:
In order to reach these goals, you need to dedicate all of your focus and effort towards achieving them.
Yes, this will cause a rift in your current schedule and lifestyle.
Yes, it will not be easy.
Yes, it will be worth every second.
The Harsh Truth
There are plenty of articles out there on how to achieve your dreams and goals, but too many of them are coddling, and they forget to mention the harsh truth of sacrifice and dedication. The most important element to achieving success is to know what you want, then fully immersing yourself in a lifestyle that eliminates all but this one goal. Your focus should be razor sharp, with your gaze fixed on this new level of success.
Whether you want to step on the bodybuilding stage, become a champion powerlifter, compete in a local CrossFit competition, or become a StrongMan, you cannot allow your dedication to waver. Nothing short of a natural disaster should stop you from your training. There are plenty of individuals out there who have lost limbs and still manage to get up and get to the gym. Why? Because nothing is going to stop them. Not even the loss of a crucial body part.
The Enemy of Success
Fear is the reason so many people sell themselves short. The fear of failure, the fear of commitment, and the fear of success; all play a role in putting the wall up in your mind. Chasing after your dreams of athletic glory is terrifying. There’s no doubt about it. The only thing more frightening is reaching an age when your goal is no longer physically possible, looking back, and saying,
“If only I tried…”
The other enemy to your goals is you. Aside from allowing fear to control you, the idea of constant sacrifice may be too much. Having to bail on a night of binge drinking in order to train and properly feed your muscles may be too much for some people. Not being able to make small sacrifices like this is the reason why so many don’t reach their goals. It is essentially a “weeding out” process. Sacrifice shows who is truly dedicated to changing their lives.
Unbalanced to Balanced
Balance is important in your life, but there are times when you’re going to have to throw balance to the wind in order to get what you want. Some of the most accomplished athletes, bodybuilders, and powerlifters in history had to sacrifice their “normal” lives in order to reach that elite level of greatness. Your life will become unbalanced for a while, but that’s a part of the sacrifice. It’s a part of proving your dedication to your dreams. The balance will settle back in eventually, but in the meantime, forget about balance. You may only have one shot to do this so jump in with both feet. Dedicate your entire being to your goals, and you won’t have to worry about regret. Stay strong and bask in glory once you get to where you need to be.
