What is your motivation?

[Drunken_Weasel]

When you are pumping that weight, and it becomes hard.. Or even when its not hard, what are you thinking about? What is driving you to continue. And what drives you to get that last rep out? Love? Hate? Anger?

 

[DrBones]

Very interesting question....
I've never even thought about what consumes my thoughts...

When I go into a zone, I try to treat my muscles as though we are a team. If I treat them how they want to be treated, they are going to listen to me when I place high demands upon them. If I don't give them what they need, I don't expect them to want to listen when it comes down to me squeezing every last drop of energy out of them. The only thing I can consciously think of when getting under the bar, is my focus on a certain part of the roof that I imagine myself driving the bar through. Launching it as if it was weightless and busting a hole through the rafters...

 

[Drunken_Weasel]

Good reply.

As far as myself goes.. mine differs. A large part of the time, my motivation is from Anger, and Hatred towards myself.. Towards my body, and what it is now.. and was in the past. Other times, its strive to be better, out of happiness.. Sometimes, I'm just so happy (thinking about my girl) that I can get that last rep out just thinking about her. Sometimes its also hatred towards someone else.. out of spite, like going "ha, make fun of me now.. just wait.. see what I become".

 

[wonderstanding]

"Anger is a gift" -- RATM

all of my negative emotions... anger, hatred, frustration, sadness, etc.

lifting is THE one thing I've found in life that allows me to turn negative energy into positive energy (strength)

 

[Aussie Juga naught]

Thinking about the improvements I can make, its that simple. Everyone who pumps weights is trying to improve themselves.

 

[RusPA81]

My motivation is that I hate to be beaten. If I can't lift a heavy weight or I quit on a set before I wanted too, then I have beaten and that haunts me all the way until the next week.

 

[icelandic]

When doing hit, I like the mantra "fight for your life"

 

[Drunken_Weasel]

All good posts, keep them coming!

 

[Lord_Suston]

I usually don't have to think but I feel an animalistic surge of survival, not letting the weight drop, pushing myself to the limit and beyond.
Because lets face it you want to be better and it takes will, and pride in yourself to challenge yourself everyday; whether in the ammount of reps or weigh or just a new excercise. To survive and excell, only a few lifters have this, they get better every year and learn more everyday.
In the end can you ask yourself did I give it my all, and if you say "NO" then you will no it, because deep down you can't lie to yourself....

 

[madrid]

reply

For example whe doing chest, and im donw to my last few reps i think if 2 things. How bad i want my chest to look like Arnolds chest and my spotter trying to get with my girlfriend.