Don't Be Afraid

“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” – Frank Herbert, Dune

Sometimes as I look at the barbell before I attempt a heavy lift I think: “Put the fear of God into it”

It reminds me that although there are many things to be afraid of I will not let fear enter my mind in that moment.

I know that if I have doubts as I approach the bar I will not make the lift.

Fear is the mind-killer.

Let the fear enter your mind and let it pass over you.

Tell yourself that the Barbell is the world that I create.

It is a world that can control me and that I can fear.

Or it is a world that I can control and be the master of.

I choose to be the master of my barbell.

It sounds dramatic because it is.

Here’s the thing…

Humans are not as refined as we would like to think.

Physically we have changed very little, if at all, in the past 100,000 years.

What has changed, and changed dramatically, is our external environment.

We are ancient beings living in a modern world that bombards us with new social structures and technology.

Weightlifting is a visceral way to connect with the natural and primal feelings that course through our veins.

The problem is we aren’t usually allowed to act on them.

We are told to sit down and shut up.

We are told to be nice.

We are told to smile and nod.

We are told to say “I understand how you feel”.

We are told to calm down.

That’s all well and good if you’re a kindergarten teacher trying to control 25 unruly 6 year olds, but when it comes time to lift weights you don’t have to be nice anymore.

If you have anger in your heart, lift with that anger.

It’s ok.

If you have joy welling up in your soul, lift with that joy.

It’s ok.

What I’m trying to tell you is that you ARE in control of how you feel when you approach the barbell.

You aren’t in control of a lot of things besides that so take advantage.

If you want to be a bad motherfucker then this is your chance.

My good buddy Chris Barnard always says ‘talk to that bitch!’ when someone is attempting a heavy lift.

Lifting is not a time to be wishy washy. You are either in or you’re out.

You can lift from many different emotions successfully.

Anger.

Love.

Joy.

Hatred.

But you absolutely cannot lift with fear in your heart.

You must lift with absolute confidence in yourself.

And sometimes you have to talk to your barbell.

Let it know that you are NOT afraid.

Let it know that it is YOU who is in control.

So stop being timid.

Stop being humble.

Stop being bashful and afraid.

Stop being afraid and put the fear of God into that thing.

Talk to that bitch.