15 Ways Strength Training Makes You Better at Life

While some of the prominent reasons people start a fitness program is to lose weight, burn fat, and look better nekkid (credit Dan John) the reality is strength training gives you MUCH more than simply an aesthetic return on your investment. Strength training creates a more well rounded human. How do I know? I know because I have witnessed it happen many times over amongst many different demographics. In the time I have been in the field these are 15 benefits I have personally witnessed.    

1. Resiliency
Strength training makes the body and mind more resilient. More specifically when you get backtracked on a huge project at work, get a dose of bad news, incur a minor injury during a weekend warrior event, or take a loss in the market your attitude will tend to remain positive and you will be more willing to fight your way through whatever the situation may be.

2. Persistence
Being strong is a journey... and not a short one at that. Much like life reaching your strength potential requires you to show up week in and week out and do the work. You build the ability to keep chipping away at the goal you have set for yourself until your goal is realized.

3. Assertiveness
Life is not for the timid. To get what you want in this world you have to be willing to be assertive and go for it. Sometimes you have to tell people what they don't want to hear, you have to be the bad guy(or girl), and you have to make tough decisions. If you are strong physically and mentally this process becomes a whole lot easier. 

4. A Warrior's Spirit
Life to some degree in a battle. You have to push and strive to keep your boss happy, your customers happy, your significant others happy, your kids on the right track, your employees motivated, your taxes paid, you car serviced, and the list goes on and on. Keeping yourself fit puts you in the warrior's spirit. Ready to battle for what keeps your life feeling fulfilled. 
 
5. Focus During Adversity
At some point in your life (most likely multiple times) you will face adversity. Be it major or minor it will show up. It will test your will, patience, commitment, focus, and determination. If you are strong this adversity will be easier to conquer.

6. Emotional Control
In life becoming emotionally erratic during intense situations will usually do more harm than good. In the gym you have to be willing to set aside the fact that you are tired, stressed, sore, and have a lot on your mind. You have to keep your emotions in check and get through the day's objectives. This practice is a beautiful rehearsal for handling emotionally charged situations in your life.  
 
7. Deliberate Practice
Strength training teaches you to focus on specific objectives and then to execute a game plan. This concept is known as deliberate practice (credit Talent is Overrated). It is one thing to "work", but it is yet another thing entirely to work on specific areas that truly need focused attention. Strength training teaches you how to be deliberate, calculated, efficient, and how to use your time effectively. 
 
8. A Competitive Edge
The world today is competitive and having an edge helps. When you are looking to land a new client, get selected to run a big project, or even are in line for a promotion having a strong presence gives you an edge over the person that doesn't take the time to keep themselves fit. 

9. Confidence
Confidence is attractive and people are drawn to those that have it. If you know that you are strong and capable it will breed a natural confidence that will give you charisma and allure.
 
10. Consistency
Strength training doesn't ask you for much. What it does require is that you be consistent. It is not going to call you if you don't make it. It's feelings won't be hurt if you decide to take the day off. That means it is up to you to make consistent training a priority. This discipline tends to spill over and positively impact how consistent you are in other areas of your life as well.

11. Humility
Strength training keeps you humble. I have been training for the better part of 15 years and it takes little effort for me to find someone who is much stronger than I am. I can also easily find areas in my strength development that still need a lot of work. This builds a humble perspective in your everyday life. The man who knows everything soon realizes he knows nothing at all. 
 
12. You Learn to Push Yourself
Most people spend the bulk of their time in their comfort zone. Strength training teaches you to routinely get yourself out of your comfort zone. Striving to get out of your comfort zone on a regular basis will put you on a fast track to your potential. 
 
13. Community
When you strength train regularly you begin to acquire the aforementioned benefits. You also begin to meet others that have also obtained the aforementioned benefits. A camaraderie builds amongst you and these individuals and the end result is a community of positive, motivated, and achievement oriented people.  
 
14. You Become a Better Leader
As your journey into strength progresses you become more confident, more assertive, and more sure of your capabilities in the decision making processes of life. This creates someone that is better equipped to captivate an audience. People become more willing to take direction from you and believe in your vision. You become a more authentic leader. 

15. Stress Management 
Exercise becomes your outlet for managing life's stress. No more vodka tonics, cheese pizzas, pints of ice cream, or other emotionally driven forms of self medicating. Your strength training keeps you grounded & keeps your stress levels at bay.

Conclusion

As you can see the negative consequences of strength training are.....well I can't think of any. Getting stronger and healthier can only make you better. So what are you waiting for? Get to the gym and make it happen!