| EliteFTS

"I am sure that I have run more swiftly with a lame leg that I ever did with a sound one. I am certain that I have seen more in the dark than ever I saw in the light... The anvil, the fire, and the hammer, are the making of us; we do not get fashioned much by anything else. That heavy hammer falling on us helps to shape us; therefore let affliction and trouble and trial come." -Charles Spurgeon

We all know pain is a part of life, both in a physical and mental sense. When you choose to devote a large part of your life to training, pain is even more inevitable. We all know the days when training is frustrating, when the weights feel heavy, when things aren't going according to plan. Sometimes it's an injury, sometimes it's outside stress, sometimes you have no idea what the problem is. It's times like these when it's easy to mutter the words "why can't things just go right?" to ourselves. In the moment, it's hard to see any positives in the situation; and the cliche motivational quotes can get old.

But it's in these times that some of our most important development as lifters, coaches, and as people takes place. When things are going smoothly, it's certainly rewarding, but how much do we really grow from those times? It's like when you test a lift in the gym and hit a PR. The PR feels awesome and is encouraging, but did the actual act of hitting a PR in that moment make you any stronger? The "PRs", both in the gym and in life, are awesome and should be enjoyed; but remember that it's the times when you're grinding away, sometimes without much immediate gratification, that builds the strength FOR those PR moments.

The Anvil, the Fire, and the Hammer were used to shape some of the most finely crafted tools (and most effective weapons), but their process is violent and destructive. Remember that as you face those same conditions in life, that those are opportunities to build resolve and strength. What might hurt you in the short term as a lifter can make you a better coach; and what might hurt you in the short term as a coach can make you a better person. If you're struggling right now, remember that the "PRs" are coming again, but you have to choose to persevere through the heat of the fire, and pressure of the hammer. It's through those times, that you become Strong(er).