The Stoics were also highly attuned to the importance of gratitude. Marcus Aurelius in Meditations wrote:
“All you need are these: certainty of judgment in the present moment; action for the common good in the present moment; and an attitude of gratitude in the present moment for anything that comes your way.”
Why this is critical for the budding Iron Exec is it provides objectivity. This is a critical element in maintaining a desire to continue to lift and better yourself. If you can’t be grateful for the fact you can lift and compete you can very quickly feel inadequate when you spend 5min on YouTube and see Larry Wheels hitting deadlift reps with 800lbs.... the fact you can deadlift is a blessing. Why? You could have been born a cripple. You could have been born in a country that does not allow freedom of expression or an economy that would enable you to fit out your gym garage or pay for a gym membership. Remember no matter what your situation, if you’re reading this someone will be worse off to you so be grateful.
This applies just as much to your career and business. Even just enjoy the commute on the bus into work, cause you can sit and read your book. The alternative could be your stuck in traffic for 2 hours. Enjoy the early morning sun as you walk to the train station. Enjoy the fact you own a car and can listen to your favourite tunes in the car as you drive to work. You have a job! Be grateful. There are countless people out there who want a job who don’t have one.
The ability to be grateful focuses your objectivity. With objectivity comes reduced stress levels and an intrinsic satisfaction with “your lot”. Without putting too much of a fine point on it, constant gratitude is the secret to a satisfying life. Apply the gratitude to your lifting and career. It does not hinder your ambition. I’d argue in fact it does the opposite. It allows you to be ambitious cause it removes the fear. If you don’t succeed, so what, what you have right now is great.