Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock. Sayʻs to “Bring it!”
The gym isn’t only a facilitator of movement or a place to build muscle and strength, it’s also a tool that can build character.
This morning I woke up and began reading my usual morning articles and came across this quote that inspired me to write this post before I headed out for work.
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
Helen Keller
There are some of us who look at a gym as a sacred place, a place that deserves respect and honor. My dad once told me a story when he was a young man watching one of his cousins kicking around a soda can. Then one of his aunties said, “Eh, stop kicking the can.”
“Why?” My dad’s cousin replied.
“Did you enjoy your soda?” She asked.
“Ya.”
“Did it make you feel good?”
“Ya.”
“Then why you disrespect something that brought you joy and happiness by kicking it around?”
You see, there are those out there who take advantage of what gives them strength, muscle, fitness, health, and confidence. They leave their weights all over, chalk is thrown on the ground, and dumbbells out of order on the rack. No respect.
So does keeping the gym clean and in order help build character? Of course it does. Why do you think your mom always told you to clean your room. Because it’s your kuleana, responsibility.
Silent Chaos
The part of Helen Keller’s quote that grabbed me was, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.” This where the gym comes in for me when I train, and when I coach.
Every time you exercise you may face challenges, come up with excuses, experience pain, doubt yourself, feel intimidated and frustrated. There’s a constant battle going on within you. It can get very loud and crowded in your head. No one else can hear it or feel what you are feeling, just you.
So the question is – What are you going to do about it?
Building the strength you want or the physique you desire is not an easy thing to do. There’s no magic pill, supplement, or diet that’ll make it easy. The Kū Coaching Philosophy shares what is needed; Determination, Dedication, and Discipline.
There’s never a quiet moment in the gym.
Even when there is silence, there is chaos.
Imagine if you could hear what everyone thinks about while working out; the insecurities, excuses, whining, anger, frustration, joy, happiness, struggle, and you get the idea. It’ll be extremely loud.
But it’s those moments while training “Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”
Aloha
Be Kū