“Modern-day warriors are examples of the best that can be achieved through bodybuilding. You don’t have to be an advanced bodybuilder or a Mr. or Ms. Olympia contentder to be a warrior, but you must possess the personal qualities characterized by the following guidelines. These guidelines can be thought of as the warrior’s code, a summary of the things you need to be in order to be the best possible you.
1. Warriors are disciplined people who are committed to excellence. Warriors are dedicated to bodybuilding and give it a priority in their daily lives. They are not afrid to dream or to aspire, but they go the extra step in putting these thoughts into specific, appropriate, and attainable goals and plans.
2. Warriors are positive people. Warriors know that in approaching any situation they really have only two options: to be positive or to be negative. They actively choose to be positive – to realistically build themselves up and approach every situation with a ‘can do’ attitude. Warriors assert active control over their lives by believing and trusting in themselves. They know that they not only must be positive, they must also exude this positiveness. Right thinking must be coupled with right action.
3. Warriors view training sessions as personal proving grounds. They approach their training as the ancient warriors approached their battles, but modern-day warriors do not battle anyone. They do not even battle the weights. Their goal is to join with the weights to become the best they can. Their challenge is to battle their fears, doubts, and insecurities. Bodybuilding warriors are purposeful people who concentrate fully and imaginatively on the tasks at hand. They focus on churning out quality sets with proper form. They feel an inner sense of satisfaction in training the proper way.
4. Warriors are persistent. They know that they are involved in their training for the long run. Warrriors value and even cherish their striving and struggling. They endure discomfort knowing that this is precisely the time when they are best extending themselves physically as well as mentally. They continually push themselves to their own frontiers of growth and development. Warriors accept and learn from their failures and disappointments to become better at what they do. Warriors are always willing to keep on learning and expanding themselves. They are involved in pumping iron ‘for life.’
5. Warriors live a balanced life. They know that in order to consistently put in quality workouts, they must have the rest of their lives in order. They have integrated their beliefs and practices into every area of their lives so they are consistent and congruent. They have learned how to juggle their life roles in order to give each attention while maintaining an overall rhythm. Being a warrior means being a warrior in all aspects of one’s life.
6. Finally, warriors serve others. These people understand that part of their duty is to give something back by helping others. They teach and assist so others can maximize their own progress. In a way, warriors serve as role models so that the novice and intermediate bodybuilders can eventually also become warriors. By continually sharing knowledge and experience, warriors also advance the sport they love.
This code of the bodybuilding warrior, I propose to you, is meant to be a challenge. Do not blindly accept or reject it, but expand upon it to develop your own standards of bodybuilding excellence.”
- excerpted from Mind Pump