The key to happiness in weightlifting...

Even just typing the title gave me a little ‘am I qualified to write this’ moment. Not because I’ve not been lifting weights for 20 years, and weightlifting for nearly 13. Rather because the obvious introspection from the title is ‘Am I happy with my weightlifting?’

The short answer is; “No. I am not satisfied with my own weightlifting and yet this may be the very thing that makes the sport the breeding ground for happiness.” I want to be stronger, technically better, more conditioned… but those things are unlimited and ongoing.

I recently listened to a podcast about the philosophical pursuit of happiness. And hopefully without making too many grandiose ambiguous links it made me consider training and weightlifting. In the interview it was said that in order to feel content and satisfied people really needed a ‘task with no end’. To add to that from other teaching on happiness and contentment:

True happiness can be found in meaning, gained from spending time in a flow state achieved by being present in a challenging task or activity that pushes our ability to existing and even new limits.

You must be present

The task must be challenging

You must live on the edge of your current ability and the cusp of the next skill

That reminded me of training. Not every session of course. Maybe not even most sessions at times. But some training sessions we find ourselves so involved and working so hard that time disappears and enjoyment is all thats left.

Being unsatisfied is not the same thing as being unhappy. Want more, whilst recognising how far you’ve come and much fun thats been.