I was very nervous when I signed up for my first strongman contest. I only did it because I had just turned 35 and had always wanted to compete. Figured it was now or never. I train alone and never post my workouts to any social media so I am not use to putting myself out there was new. I had no idea what to expect but ended up taking second as a novice heavyweight. Still hurts because first place was well within reach. But I learned from my mistakes and am excited to go at it again in the open class. My advice is to just go for it. The nerves turn into adrenaline and I hit PR’s on every event.
The biggest thing mixed martial arts taught me is to do things while I'm scared. If you try to stop being scared you freeze up. If you think about winning, and losing you freeze up. You don't wait to not be scared, you do it scared. If you are not scared enough of any man, a good instructor will pair you up with two or three. It's absolutely where combat training begins, and ends. Not responding correctly to fear is the thing that will get you whooped by a lesser. Either that or prevent you from dying well. It's part of the mental end that everyone talks about, but nobody trains enough.
15:42 l never understood how people can get so stressed over the most trivial things. Jobs that would replace them at any moment, people in traffic, politics. Stoicism is a game changer.
Stoicism isn't taking it on the chin as a base point. It's the understanding that there are things within our control and outside of our control and that we should focus on the things within our control. Otherwise solid video. The stuff about getting over social anxiety rings with me because I used to be a huge dork and realized that people aren't just less social now because they are, but because we don't practice it anymore.
The dictionary definition of stoicism: "the endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without complaint." And from the philosophers of stoicism: "Many Stoics-such as Seneca and Epictetus-emphasized that because "virtue is sufficient for happiness", a sage would be emotionally resilient to misfortune."
@@AlexanderBromley That definition is actually 'touching' on the outcomes of accepting that you have no control on certains things beyond your own control. Bacically that is the outcome of stoicism rather than stoicism it self. Best regards.
@@KenanTurkiye Stoicism by definition is what Alex Bromley said. You’re talking about how to become stoic. It’s not the same thing. Regardless, Alex mentioned what you did in the video within the same sentence of defining stoicism.
I’m lucky enough to do what I love for a living, but for the longest time I couldn’t figure out why I also struggled with it. Realized it was because my mind was so taken up with doomscrolling on Twitter and being too in the know about current events that won’t ever actually affect me that I was constantly in a state of anxiety and fear and couldn’t use any of that energy for conquering hard tasks and improvements in my work. Deleting Twitter and not following the news did so much for me mentally because as you said, I stopped giving fucks about things that aren’t conducive to my goals. Loved the video!
You’ve been reading my mail, haven’t you? As an addictions counsellor, I would say your analysis of perseverance is spot on with my philosophy. You touched on this, but I would add that stoicism is not so much about accepting existing structures as it is about accepting the human condition. If you see something wrong, you are obligated to fix it, despite the negative consequences to yourself. Also, I too was pleasantly surprised at the wisdom in Mark Manson’s book. As a musician, I use a similar story about becoming a rockstar that you outlined, as often, people focus on the shiny end result, rather then the cutting and polishing stages. Great job, and you got me thinking about how I can improve myself.
Im a bit late to this party but this was a great talk! Been watching this channel a while now and love that I finally found this one. I’ve been sober for 3 years and picked up strongman in the last year and a half to fill the time (after spending some time picking up some of the pieces of my life). Anyway serenity prayer has been a main fixture in my recovery.
Somehow I always feel anxiety before a new PR or even when repeating a previous PR after a longer time. But I love the feeling, when an old difficult PR becomes something trivial or even less than that, warmup load 💪 Alex, I just love these video materials and your books as well, you are a great educator and this is one of the best strenght education channels out there. Right now I am finishing your third book, Superior deadlift, a great read!
Some friends urged me to get into powerlifting last year, after I'd been training on and off for years. I finally caved, gave it a go and became obsessed. It has genuinely improved my life. Yes, there are definitely struggles; obviously not every workout feels like I'm sifting through the sky on some magical rocket. Yet, I don't ever think about "quitting". As I tend to tell those who ask me about it: "I can't really tell you how to 'start powerlifting'; I just started training ad a clueless 18-year-old and after years of trial and error, it led me to powerlifting". Ultimately, it's something I do because it brings me personal fulfillment. And I guess that's the reason I can train time and time again, even if I have a totally crap workout one day. Those are part of the process; they don't really affect me anymore.
I started watching your videos within the last couple of months. Amazing videos. This one in particular changed my mindset. All the negatives you discussed in this video were things I did. I am now working on changing what I have controlled over and on being a better man. Thank you. I would also love to see more videos like this from you.
Damn Mr. Bromley, this was a fantastic video. A great reminder and useful tips for those of us striving for better and a wake up call for all those who have no direction. Love to see more esoteric/life philosophy topics mixed in with all your fantastic programming wisdom. Happy Thanksgiving to you, keep up what you're doing!
This video could not have come at a better time for me. . I am subscribed to your channel and I watch most of what you put out because I love strength training. This video however meant a lot to me and none of it to do with lifting. Personal life issue are at an all time low for me and my anxiety and fear are through the roof. Which is hard to admit and then it makes me more isolated with my insecurities. The serenity prayer (among other things you talked about) is a wonderful reminder for me to calm myself down. I was actually watching this video because I was about to go out and press and was looking for a little lifting motivation. As it turns out it is so much more important to me than I could have imagined. I want to say thank you personally and want you to know that if nothing else you helped one person find some peace at least for a day. (although I will keep coming back to this throughout the week.) Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Alex.
I just want to say thank you for making this. Im quite the young guy myself and am struggling to manage my own "responsiblites" with furthering my medical education, fitness, personal/romantic relationships and my youtube channel. Unforuntaley due to circumstances the thing that has fell to the wayside has been my channel. This video really put a different perspective and angle on things for me as I when I'd sit to write a script or do anything I would think about all the counterarguements that could be drawn up...which I never remember having worried about when I was a smaller size, since I didnt care what people thought. I'd love to see more of these kind of self-improvement-esque videos. Thanks also for your deadlift and squat form-related stuff, after years I am finally stronger than ever and I relate that to using your squat and deadlift videos!
Im in the middle of this process right now and I can whole heartedly say that my life has been getting better and better by the day. I love the point that if you really want something, you will sacrifice A LOT to get it. For me, these sacrifices can be my time, my energy, my stress levels, sleep, ego, etc, but I know I will come out on top if I make the necessary sacrifices and get what I want. also a big fan of giving fewer fucks. If I want to do/say something, I have to go take charge and do/say those things. Otherwise I am just a slave to my insecurities. The mistakes that I will make and the consequences of my actions are things that I have to face. If I wanna call myself a man, someone that can be respected by his peers and looked up to as a person on value, I have to be able to face the consequences of my actions, accept them, genuinely apologize if necessary, make a change for the better, and push forward.
This is a great video, thanks for posting it - I think it’s hard for a lot of people to understand without tangible examples and you put several metaphors in to illustrate your points.
Hey man, I just want to say thanks. Your content helps me allot. Idk how you come up with these subjects but they are great. Quickly becoming my favorite goto channel for all things strength training. You explain content in a way that's easily understood. You teach the mentality and lifting culture by just talking. It spews out of you, you teach things that you don't mean to teach. I have pushed a 20 rep squat max to 275, (I died) didn't get that video out in time. I have also started going balls deep in my RDLs doing sets of 10 with 405. Something I've never done because it sucks and it's hard. My last 4 meets I followed your blueprint to water cut to the T. That video is gold. The 30 pounds in 5 days video. Which is actually how I found your channel. I have cut from over 200 on Sunday to bellow 181 on Friday morning 4 times in the last year and a half because of it. Anyway just reaching out because you have made a positive impact and I learned so much from all your content and applied it to my life. Will be joining patrion
You have a lot of great videos but this one is definitely the best I've seen yet. The message is very meaningful to all aspects of life, not just strength training.
Sorry philosophy nerd here, stoicism in the ancient greek and roman sense really is focused on the stoic attitude as an ethical framework. The other thing is its not quite inaccurate, but is misleading to say "take it on the chin" because its not about burying the emotions, its abiut cultivating yourself not to have them. (Also Martha Nussbaum evicerates stoicism as an ethical framework in "The Fragility of Goodness")
Honestly... I have learned to love hard things. I have associated them with improving. So I am actually more likely to skip upper workouts than lower... However that should not be generalized for every situation... I have been known to also pick difficult (to deal with) partners.... That I sort of regret
The quote at 24:04 sums up my feelings-- it's my main argument against blackpill thinking. But what about when you can't seem to care enough about anything? Or you have been conditioned so thoroughly that you don't believe the positive outcome is achievable.
