We all have reasons for doing whatever it is we do.

I enjoy lifting weights and I'm no pro bodybuilder and I don't want to be one.

I lift weights because I enjoy lifting. It's neither a passion nor a hobby. I do it mainly for health reasons. Not to say there's anything wrong with me. This may sound strange, but I lift because it makes me feel normal.

During my 15+ years of lifting, I've discovered a few things about myself and how I it translates to my life.

1. Self Sabotage

How easily I talk myself out of going to the gym. Excuses pop up like little rabbits hopping around. The most common excuse is "you can always go tomorrow."

I think we all tend to get in our own way by talking ourselves out of doing what we set out to do. Self sabotage leads to procrastination. We'd rather do something that requires less effort. Sleeping in versus getting up and going to the gym. Which one's easier?

2. Awareness

There's that little voice in your head that constantly talks to you. Twists your brain and convinces you otherwise.

Once you take note of your thoughts, you will discover your reasons why your life is the way it is.

While performing an exercise I reach a certain point where I can either push a little further or not. Usually it's that little voice telling me to stop. I know that if I push a little more, I can make more progress. Success doesn't only require effort, but constant awareness of your thoughts and how they affect the decisions we make.

3. Flow State

To squat heavy weights is not a walk in the park.

It requires intense focus and commitment.

I enjoy listening to my favorite tunes while training. However, when that barbell is resting on my shoulders, I don't hear any music. My focus is 100% on the lift.

We enter the flow state when we're really focused on a task. Time is distorted, sound is diluted, and you get into the "zone".

Lifting weights has taught me how to enter the flow state by intensely focusing on one thing, giving all myself to accomplishing my objective.

4. Visualization creates

Before I head to the gym every morning, I visualize every exercise. I feel the weight in my hand and the muscles being worked. When I arrive at the gym and begin my workout, half the work is done because I know what to expect.

Our imagination is what creates our reality. We're constantly visualizing what we want to be, do and have.

Because thoughts turn to things.

5. Remembering Your "Why"

There are days when I wake up on the wrong side of the bed and just don't have the desire to workout. I listen to that voice in my head again.

At that moment, I have a choice. Either I give in to self sabotage or I put on my big boy pants and get my behind to the gym.

The latter is encouraged by remembering my reason why I go to the gym.

"Why" is why we want things. It's why we do things. It's why we exist.

And that reason "why" is the same for all of us. For the absolute joy of being, doing or having that desire. But, that topic is for another day.