27Have you ever wondered what separates genuinely successful bodybuilders from everyone else?
Maybe they have superior genetics? Or perhaps it’s all due to having a better coach?
Many factors determine a person’s bodybuilding success. But, perhaps the most significant difference, the factor that dictates your results, is the mindset you carry. So, let’s talk about it.
Mindset isthe collection of thoughts, beliefs, goals, assumptions, and overall life philosophy. Unlike other things, your mindset is unique to you because numerous factors go into shaping it. Your upbringing, social circle, life experiences, occupation, age, and other things shape your mind and make you who you are.
The mindset you carry will influence your decisions, habits, how you perceive various situations in life and more. For instance, two people could watch the same video of Arnold Schwarzenegger training for bodybuilding. One might think, “Whoa, that guy trains so hard as if his life depends on it.” Another might only conclude, “Meh, that’s all steroids.”
Both people see the same thing (Arnie pumping iron) but perceive it in unique ways and come up with different conclusions.
The person admiring Arnold for his work ethic probably has experience with bodybuilding and understands that results like these take a lot of work. In contrast, the second person might be less athletic and with little to no weight training experience. As such, he is more likely to be influenced by other people’s opinions of Arnold.
A person’s mindset will also influence their actions and the habits they develop. For example, if one person believes a healthy lifestyle will help them live longer, they are more likely to make health-conscious choices. In contrast, someone who thinks fitness is a waste of time would be less likely to get active. Why bother sweat, pant, and deal with soreness if it doesn’t bring anything positive, right?
People love to argue about what’s most important for being successful in bodybuilding. Genetics, access to good information, working with a solid coach, and sleeping enough are some of the most popular points people discuss.
But, as you saw in the previous point, what matters more is the mindset you carry. In other words, your mind can be your greatest asset or worst enemy. No matter how great your genetics are, how good your coach is, and how well you can sleep at night, you will never reach your bodybuilding potential without the right mindset.
Any successful bodybuilder carries a specific mindset that drives hard work and progress. The mindset is that of endless possibilities, abundance, and the ability to be the best among many people who give everything they have to the sport.
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‘Developing a mindset’ is undoubtedly easier said than done, but everyone can change how they think as long as they are willing to learn.
The first step to changing your thoughts is to gain control over your life. Too many people go through life blaming others for their shortcomings, mistakes, and lack of success.
Playing the victim card is easy because we give up control and envelop ourselves in self-pity. In the context of bodybuilding, many great competitors play the victim card and blame corrupt judges or other bodybuilders for their inability to rank well.
The truth is that taking responsibility and blaming yourself for your shortcomings is one of the most empowering things you can experience. Instead of being a victim, you gain control of your life and realize that your outcomes depend on you and the effort you’re willing to put into pursuing your goals.
One of the best ways to start changing your mindset is to see progress. But, to do so, you must adopt a pragmatic approach and not be afraid to experiment.
Too many people spend most of their time researching various aspects of fitness and bodybuilding, only to end up paralyzed and unsure of what to do. A much better approach is learning and implementing different ideas and seeing how each impacts your results.
We are different, and no single approach will work great for everyone. Because of that, you must try various tactics to find what leads to optimal results. Even then, you must continue trying new things––exercises, workout schedules, nutritional tactics, etc.
Have you ever heard of the saying that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with? In other words, the company you keep influences your thoughts, beliefs, choices, and outcomes.
So, if you want to develop a strong mindset, one of the crucial things you need to do is look at your social circle. Ask yourself, “Do the people around me have similar goals and beliefs? Could we help one another reach our goals?”
To be a great bodybuilder, surround yourself with other ambitious bodybuilders. Being around people who chase similar goals can be incredibly motivating and push you to work hard (1).
Beautiful things lie beyond the border of comfort. Unfortunately, most people rarely leave their comfort zone and miss out on many great achievements. Even worse, they stay in one place throughout their life because they don’t believe great success is something they can have.
The more you push yourself and leave your comfort zone, the more you realize that limitations are in your mind and that you can achieve a lot.
Bodybuilding is as much physical as it is psychological. Taking the time to develop the mindset of a true champion will influence how you see the world, what beliefs you hold, and how much effort you put into your pursuits.
We hope our article has given you some practical ideas you can apply to your life. If you want to elevate your results and make the most of your training and nutrition, check out our bodybuilding warehouse for SARMs (UK).
References
1. Amati V, Meggiolaro S, Rivellini G, Zaccarin S. Social relations and life satisfaction: the role of friends. Genus. 2018;74(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s41118-018-0032-z. Epub 2018 May 4. PMID: 29755134; PMCID: PMC5937874.
