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I have a number of personal development projects that I consider critical for my existence. One is to learn the language of the country I'm in; another is to go

I have a number of personal development projects that I consider critical for my existence. One is to learn the language of the country I'm in; another is to go to the gym 3-4 times a week (75% of my sessions are currently with a trainer, because I'm new to it, started about three months ago). And a recent 'wear away the stone' project was to earn X$ per month writing about AI, which took five years, beginning from some very humble pay checks. But these are not 'vanity' projects: the latter was obviously pivotal to my survival, as I'm not independently wealthy, and had no job when I migrated; my motivation for the gym is that I have suffered from depression for forty years, and pushing myself physically and engaging with my body is the most effective treatment (albeit found late in life) I have ever come across to massively alleviate this (hence looking better, muscles, etc. is just collateral benefit); and the need to speak the language of my adopted country is obvious. Sure, there are other things I have persisted in and improved in because they massively accord with my interests and enthusiasm, but those three projects are my demonstration to myself that persistence, while not a magic bullet (some people are never going to make it in Hollywood, for instance), is as near to a magic bullet for personal transformation as most of us are ever likely to have access to. The gym is the one that fascinates me most at the moment; I look around me, as a relative newcomer, and wonder at the motivation behind the incredible bodies you see there. Are they all sprouting out from some deep psychological need? Even if it's 'just' vanity, it would have to qualify as pathological - as my own reason for being there is. So I am interested in people who will go through these kind of pain and boredom barriers for less intense reasons, if indeed they exist.

ovulator 4y ago
When I first started hitting the gym, it was because of a horrible break up. So there was a psychological need (I found it better than any therapist I was trying at the time). But then, it just became habit. I went today because I went yesterday. Nothing more to it. Then covid hit, and that habit broke. I've been getting back into it, but in fits and starts because I've lacked that initial push.
- anthomtb 4y ago
  I would say this is a difference between a short-term habit (going to the gym) and a long-term goal (being fit). Habits can be long term of course, but likely to fade if they don't resolve around some long term goal. If your goal is fitness and the gym isn't interesting, you will find some other way to obtain fitness. Maybe martial arts, maybe a physical team sport, maybe an individual sport. Then at some point you'll plateau at your sport, or the offseason hits, or you need more strength or endurance, and there's your reason to get back in the gym. Rinse and repeat for as long as you want to stay fit.
  - borroka 4y ago
    Side note, but most people who say they don't like lifting weights have never lifted weights "properly" (most personal trainers are not good teachers of either technique or intensity; it is a profession with a low barrier to entry) and have never seen the visible effects of lifting weights on their bodies. It's hard to say "I don't like lifting weights" when people start complimenting your body and looking at your biceps, pecs, glutes, etc.

ovulator 4y ago

When I first started hitting the gym, it was because of a horrible break up. So there was a psychological need (I found it better than any therapist I was trying at the time). But then, it just became habit. I went today because I went yesterday. Nothing more to it. Then covid hit, and that habit broke. I've been getting back into it, but in fits and starts because I've lacked that initial push.

anthomtb 4y ago
I would say this is a difference between a short-term habit (going to the gym) and a long-term goal (being fit). Habits can be long term of course, but likely to fade if they don't resolve around some long term goal. If your goal is fitness and the gym isn't interesting, you will find some other way to obtain fitness. Maybe martial arts, maybe a physical team sport, maybe an individual sport. Then at some point you'll plateau at your sport, or the offseason hits, or you need more strength or endurance, and there's your reason to get back in the gym. Rinse and repeat for as long as you want to stay fit.
- borroka 4y ago
  Side note, but most people who say they don't like lifting weights have never lifted weights "properly" (most personal trainers are not good teachers of either technique or intensity; it is a profession with a low barrier to entry) and have never seen the visible effects of lifting weights on their bodies. It's hard to say "I don't like lifting weights" when people start complimenting your body and looking at your biceps, pecs, glutes, etc.