|
|
|
|
By
Phil Stevens |
So a couple of weeks ago I’m
sitting at my computer working away. As my usual I’d throw
up a tid bit here and there on face book about what the “wombat”
is doing for those endless fans that just cant get enough.
|
Just so happens during this
time I was smack dab in the middle of a VERY seldom cutting
phase. Actually doing a 4 week Body comp contest with Charles
and a few clients.
So multiple times a day I post
about the training I’m doing, odd food concoctions I’m
eating etc. Well next thing I know I get a reply back from
an old friend, Her reply was a simple:
|
 |
“You're
Obsessed”
Funny enough that simple two word
reply really stuck a cord in me, it made me both laugh and think.
Obsessed? Such a negative term, am
I obsessed?? Is it bad to be obsessed?? The exact same term has
been used to define people such as Tiger Woods, Michelangelo, Michael
Jordan, Steven King, Lance Armstrong, and nearly any and everyone
who has ever reach, worked for and obtained greatness through hard
work, laboring, some planned and accepted sacrifice and dedication
to reach their goals.
So is obsessed bad? Why is it that
the nearly ALL of the most successful people are usually labeled
“Obsessed”, and usually labeled so by those less successful
then themselves. Is it faulty to be obsessed? Do I care? Or is it
simply a case of the wrong word being used to describe a situation
by someone who has not taken the time to really look fully to educate
and get an understanding of the situation of the individual they
are labeling obsessed is in and has chosen to take on.
Take these people wrongly, and ignorantly (meaning: Showing or arising
from a lack of education or knowledge: an ignorant mistake)
Labeling someone “obsessed”
who is actually more correctly defined as, I don’t know? Driven,
dedicated, devoted, committed, and who’s actions, habits, traits
more times then not are highly successful.
Obsessed? Again am I? I know I have
been in my past, but its surely not the correct term to be used
now is it? Lets take a look at obsessed.
Obsessed = To have
the mind excessively preoccupied with a single emotion or topic
Possibly?? But what is excessive?
Who gets to classify how much time we should devote to thinking
about something we Love, find Pride, Joy and Happiness in? Is it
wrong for Tiger woods to spend Hours and Hours each day laboring
at hitting golf balls? His sport and job that he loves, and is arguably
the best at? In turn is it wrong for me to spend hours thinking
and implementing actions of training and nutrition. Striving to
be the best at the sport, Job, and life I have chosen? A life I
am having great success, have set numerous state, regional and National
records in. A passion I have dedicate a ton of time and thoroughly
find joy out helping others reach their goals? I say no.
To me obsession stems from something
negative, something stressful, usually emotional. As well obsession
to me bread lack of success. The obsessed person is laboring away
endlessly, making no head ground, no progress and full of sadness,
madness, stress yet they keep it up. They despite the fact they
hate what they are doing, hate what it does to them cant stop it.
Cant walk away, cant do anther thing. The action or obsession actually
pain and stress more so then it causes Joy, I’ve been there.
I’ve hated life, my results of my actions and lack of progress
and yet couldn’t stop my own actions. The two are very close,
it’s a fine line, but there are greatly different as well.
But wait I train HARD, and at time
I have injuries, I cause pain to myself. I Eat HARD, I labor at
usually stuffing my face with much more then is comfortable. I consistently
get under a bar at least ¼ ton of weight on it and move the
damn thing. Or at times I’m holding back, I’m hungry.
Yet I still going to train, I hit the road to do cardio to shed
fat.
I am in a constant state of repair,
anywhere from small to large but NEVER 100% pain free. Or rarely
without having to Give MORE then others feel possible, or take less
then others.
I
put up with extreme’s. But I do so to reach goals. Is that
not obsession?? It is the path away from average.
The difference is These thing I go
through, I put up with, and subject myself to are chosen. They are
parts of an activity, and passion and life I love and I actually
get joy from. They cause 3 fold the happiness then they cause pain
and stress. And I can turn it off for moments if I choose and do
things briefly that may not fit my goals BUT I do so by choice.
I am in control, not being controlled.
The difference is the fact I recognize,
I know, and I accept fully what I have to give up to reach my goals.
I am not blinded, worried or haunted by them or my actions. I have
accepted what I have to put up with, or give up. I don’t stress,
fret or worry over my actions or my losses, what I am missing. What
I give up, and what I put up with non issues. They are simply accepted
or hurdles that must be hopped to reach an extreme goal.
ANYONE who has the inclination to
do something greater then simply exist, and/or be average MUST,
Give up and also accept negatives.
If you want to be THE BEST or great
at something you will have to give up, let suffer, or accept other
pains, hardships. Plain and simple, I don’t care if you want
to be the best stay at home mom, the best actor, actress, play write,
chess player, or athlete. It’s the same thing, to be the best
you must accept the negative to the goals you have and move on.
They will be none issues then as will anyone who cares to question
your chosen path.
|
|
Its those who continue
to labor, and usually make little or no progress, that are
obsessed. Those that claim to, but don’t truly love their
chosen path, that are obsessed.
Those who are
by the majority living by “I should’s” instead
of “I wants,” that are obsessed. Those who are continually
in a state of questioning, stressing, and trying to self justify
their chosen actions, that are obsessed. And Lastly, Those
who are consistently worried and fretting over what others
think, or feel, about their actions and goals. Those who feel
the need to continually justify there actions to others who
are obsessed.
Are
You Obsessed? Or are you Striving for greatness on your OWN
self chosen path regardless of what others may think. Ask
yourself Honestly.
|
About The Author
|
Coach Phil Stevens is an accomplished
strength athlete with considerable experience in both powerlifting
and strongman competition. Phil is the 2007 APA World Champion
in the 242-pound class (total). He currently holds the APF
275-pound class raw National bench, squat, deadlift, and total
records. Phil’s marquis lift was his 700-pound raw deadlift,
performed on February 14, 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Phil has been ranked in the
“Top 10” in the deadlift Nationally across all powerlifting
federations, and in addition to his coaching duties at Staley
Training Systems, he also serves as the Arizona State Chair
for the North American Highlander Association, as well as
the founder of Lift For Hope, an annual strength-competition
with proceeds donated to Charity (www.Lift4Hope.org).
|
|
 |
|
|
