Life is full of challenges, and how we handle them often defines our happiness and success. Stoicism offers practical wisdom into dealing with adversity in a productive manner. Adversity can come in many forms, and the form that will be the focus of this article is that of strength training. How does strength training, as a form of voluntary adversity, teach Stoic principles?

The Stoic approach to adversity

The Stoic approach to adversity can be summed up in three main principles: perception, control, and virtue.

It is not events that disturb people, it is their judgments concerning them. - Epictetus, Discourses, 3.19

This quote from Epictetus means seeing each challenge in life not as a burden, but as an opportunity to grow stronger. When you perceive difficulties as chances to improve, you transform adversity into advantage, and remove suffering from the action.

Stoics emphasize focusing on what we can control and letting go of what we cannot. In the gym, you control your effort, consistency, and mindset. You can’t control how hot it is in the gym, your strength-building genetics, and many other things, but you can control how you approach each lift and how you push through discomfort. You can control your judgment of the voluntary adversity. 

Virtue in Stoicism is about embodying excellence through wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance – the four cardinal virtues. In strength training, virtue is shown through discipline, pushing through tough sets, staying true to your goals, and maintaining a balanced approach to fitness. The virtue of courage also means “fortitude” in Stoicism, and one gains fortitude in the gym through lifting heavy!

Strength training is a perfect metaphor for Stoic philosophy. It teaches the importance of embracing adversity, the value of consistency over time, and the power of practicing detachment of all possible outcomes.

Growth through adversity

In the gym, adversity is tangible. The weights are heavy, the sets are tough, and progress is increasingly slow as your experience in the gym grows. Yet every experienced lifter knows that the struggle is where growth happens. By embracing the pain and difficulty of lifting, you build not just physical strength, but mental toughness. Stoicism teaches us to welcome challenges, knowing they shape us into better, stronger individuals.

Just as muscles grow stronger by facing resistance, our character strengthens by facing and overcoming life's adversities. When you encounter challenges, whether at work, in relationships, or in personal goals, approach them like a tough workout: with determination and a focus on growth.

Continuous improvement as a Stoic

Progress in strength training is a slow process, often painfully so. It requires showing up day after day, often with little visible progress. This consistency mirrors the Stoic practice of daily reflection and continuous self-improvement. Just as a Stoic commits to lifelong learning and virtue, a lifter commits to steady, incremental progress. 
No progress will be observed from day to day, however, with consistency, results can be attained over weeks, months, and years. Building strength takes time, just as mastering Stoic principles does. Patience and persistence in the gym translate to other areas of life. Understand that meaningful progress is often slow and requires ongoing effort.

Accepting what’s not up to you

Lifters learn to control their effort and form, but must accept the limits of their bodies. Each person has their own individualistic genetics and not all support the demands of strength development. Similarly, Stoics focus on internal control while accepting external events. If you miss a lift or hit a plateau (an inevitable outcome for experienced lifters), you control your reaction: analyze what went wrong, adjust your plan, and keep going.

A lifter’s mindset is vital for success. Those who succeed are often those who maintain a proper Stoic perspective, even when progress is slow or non-existent. Adopting a Stoic mindset means focusing on what you can control – your thoughts, efforts, and actions – and letting go of what you can't. This mindset helps navigate life’s unpredictability with calm and confidence.

Closing remarks

Stoicism and strength training both teach that adversity is not to be feared but embraced. Through strength training with discipline, we can practice Stoic principles in a practical, impactful way. Each challenge, tough set, and failure is an opportunity to grow stronger, both physically and mentally. By integrating the wisdom of Stoicism into our fitness routines, we not only build our bodies but also cultivate a resilient, unshakable spirit ready to face life's toughest challenges. So next time you’re under the bar (and I hope that you’re under the bar frequently), remember: the weight is not just building your muscles, it’s forging your character.

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