There’s that great personal record (PR) feeling!
You just passed the goal you’ve been training for, for months… the one you’ve had in your head throughout every training session. And it feels great!
But suddenly, a few moments after you reach your goal and can now certifiably do what you previously didn’t know you could, a less pleasant feeling settles in.
Maybe you feel like you could have done more, or what you did wasn’t enough. But a quick scroll through Instagram finds someone repping out your new max weight like it’s an empty barbell.
That sneaking feeling is one so many strength athletes know too well, and sometimes it can feel heavier than any weight on the bar.
Instead of wallowing in a giant pity party, next time try these 3 tips for smashing your feelings of inadequacy:
1. ENJOY TRAINING! The most important step to take is to try and enjoy your training sessions as much as possible. Unless you’re a professional powerlifter or an olympic athlete, it’s likely that strength training is a hobby that is meant to improve your quality of life, and sometimes that can be easy to forget.
A lot of people begin training as a means of stress relief. Training should absolutely NOT be something that adds more stress to your life. So when you go in to the gym, focus on being in the moment and enjoying the experience of training. Every session won’t be the best workout of your life, but set an intention during warm up to just ENJOY the process of becoming strong.
2) LOOK AT OLD TRAINING VIDEOS. Another tip to overcome the feeling that your best isn’t good enough is to look back at your earliest training videos or pictures. If you take videos or photos during your training sessions and have done so for a while, don’t forget to look back and see how far you’ve come.
Progress isn’t only measured by the weight on the bar. Consider different ways you’ve improved – like finding a better balance between training and the rest of your life, or improving nutrition or technique since you started. Look back at the early days to help appreciate all the improvements.
3) CELEBRATE THE PROGRESS OF OTHERS. Although it might seem counter-intuitive, congratulating someone else on their progress can give us the permission to congratulate ourselves. So the next time your friend hits a new PR, make sure to reach out and congratulate them.
Besides, isn’t a PR dance always better with a friend?
How do you smash those rotten feelings when you feel like your best isn’t good enough? Share your advice for other lifters in the comments!
Margaret Peth is a junior at Georgia State University majoring in Philosophy and Linguistics. She trains at both powerlifting and weightlifting, and is thinking of competing in a USPA meet this May. Her favorite meal is a special concoction of toast, mayonnaise, and baked beans, which has earned her the nickname “Beanz” from her coach. Follow her on Instagram at @suprememeatball.
