What I’ve Learned From The Barbell
I can honestly say that a barbell changed my life and I'm fully aware of how eye-roll worthy that statement is.
I firmly believe you can learn a lot from simple everyday activities if you pay attention. Life isn't about simply existing, it's about getting the most out being alive so we can share that with others around us to hopefully improve their lives.
Here are 3 lessons I've learned from a barbell.
Facing your fears daily is a healthy practice
Who among us wants to admit that we're afraid? Not many, but we all are. We are afraid of different things large and small.
Asking for a raise
Quitting a job and starting over
Becoming a parent
Buying a home
Making new friends
This list goes on and on…
It takes courage to face these fears and for most of us that doesn't come naturally. But on the other side of each of those fears is a potentially better situation, a better life.
Training with a barbell is also a little scary. To make progress, to get better, you have to constantly push yourself to lift a little more weight and at times you're unsure if you can do it. Without trying you won't make progress. Facing that fear each and every day develops a mindset that will help you face the other fears in your life easier.
Things earned through really hard work are the most satisfying
Training with a barbell starts out relatively easy but as strength and skill increase the work required to make progress increases. Sure the easy gains at the beginning are fun but they are achieved without the context of how hard it is to get really strong. After a few years of constantly pushing yourself to lift loads that cause you to pause with fear (see above), you appreciate all the mental and physical work put into increasing a lift 10 lbs and it feels amazing!
I've seen a similar pattern play out in other areas of my life and there is a direct correlation between the amount of work put in and the amount of fulfillment I receive.
My marriage
Being a father
Owning a business
Leading others
Focus on the fundamentals
When training with a barbell there are correct ways and incorrect ways to lift. If the fundamentals are glossed over and you pursue lifting heavy weights before you're ready it will actually take you longer to get the benefits of lifting. You'll be lifting at a mechanical disadvantage which will put a lower ceiling on your abilities and you'll be plagued by injuries and other setbacks. Having to go back and learn the fundamentals after bad habits have been developed is a whole lot harder.
The parallels to life are quite obvious. The basics of being a decent human being are the most important and if you ignore those you'll have a hard time getting anywhere in life.
Learning to prioritize the fundamentals hasn't been easy for me. For years, I understood intellectually that building relationships mattered, but I treated it like an optional exercise—something I'd get to when I had more time. Just like trying to lift heavy without mastering technique first, I was building on a shaky foundation. Now I understand that relationships aren't something to fit in around the important work—they are part of the important work. The challenge is doing it authentically, on my own terms, without sacrificing who I am in the process. It takes intentionality. I've had to put myself in situations, like volunteering, that force me to show up for others even when my schedule is packed. It's rarely easy, but neither is adding weight to the bar. Both require commitment to the fundamentals, even when it’s hard. Here are some fundamental thoughts that serve me well.
Life is better in relationship with others.
I can treat people with unconditional positive regard.
Every person has value, period. And I can probably learn something from them.
The fundamentals aren't glamorous. They're not exciting. But they're non-negotiable if you want sustainable progress—in the gym or in life. Every time I've tried to skip ahead or take shortcuts, I've learned the hard way that fundamentals catch up with you eventually. You can't outrun poor technique under a heavy barbell, and you can't build a meaningful life on a foundation you never took time to establish. The work matters. The basics matter. And returning to them again and again, even when it feels slow, is how real transformation happens.
The lessons that can be learned by training with a barbell are almost endless and it's something that we believe everyone could benefit from. It's sometimes even hard to describe how my life has changed and you really need to experience it for yourself.
