"
Strength doesn't arise from physical power, but from unshakeable willpower.
"
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), indian lawyer, leader of indian liberation movement
Undoubtedly wise words from a wise man. On the other hand this doesn´t mean that musclepower is something only idiots consider
as worth to gain for.
In fact, everybody who ever had a try in hard blue-collar working or was seriously engaged with sports knows that you need
lots of self discipline to do this regularly for a longer
period. Otherwise you could as well just let it be.
Assumed you agree to that point, figure that self discipline is
nothing else but
willpower. It's not
mind over
matter.
It's mind and matter!
It's
resistance.
Overcoming.
Concentration resulting in rivers
of sweat. Pain that clears your mind when you finally
realise you have made it. You have merged with exhaustion.
You taste the goodness of having nothing more to give than you
have given right now.
Physical strength often is tightly linked to a strong will. It can also be a
statement of deep respect to nature, which is always
challenging strength of any means to meet its sometimes
raw and wild aspects. It can even be a statement for the
love of life. This is the only explanation for the
survival of men like Andreas Niedrig, who mutated from a
heavy junkie with a ten-year career in this obsession to
one of Europe's best triathletes. Need i to tell the
story of Lance Armstrong? The winner of 1999 Tour de
France had been given a 50/50 chance of surviving when
the doctors told him he had testicular cancer in
1996. Dig that, it's almost unbelievable!
To draw a conclusion, i suppose that physical strength is something
that shouldn't be underestimated. It is well worth
considering to move your ass and suffer some aching
muscles or getting a stitch. Maybe it won't
necessarily save your life, but it will
definitely shake it up a bit.