Failure: The Secret Psychological Benefit of Weightlifting

Weightlifting is not just a physical challenge. It’s also a psychological challenge. Both of which are stimulating in their own right. Weightlifting is a challenge for the body AND the mind. Weightlifting teaches you the importance of physical failure, which provides physical and psychological benefits.

The physical benefits of weightlifting are obvious. You’ll gain strength and build muscle. This will improve your physique over time.

But how about the psychological benefits? They aren’t always so obvious.

Weightlifting boosts your confidence. It builds your self-discipline. Improves your mood. Teaches you how to overcome adversity. And it teaches you about the importance of failing.

The art of failure is often talked about. But it isn’t talked about why it’s psychologically beneficial for you.

So, let’s explore how weightlifting teaches you about failure.

What is failure?

In weightlifting, failure is when you cannot physically complete another rep of the exercise you’re performing.

You can fail in the middle of performing a rep. Or you can fail by not being able to start another rep.

Regardless, when you reach failure, that’s the end of your set.

Whether you should lift to failure is a topic for another day.

Generally, you want to train near failure on most sets if you’re trying to build muscle. Aim for 1-3 reps short of failure.

You WILL Fail

Failure is inevitable. It’s going to happen.

You cannot be afraid of this.

Failing is part of the weightlifting process.

Sometimes you won’t be able to complete another rep. Some workouts will be better than others. And sometimes you won’t be able to lift as many reps as you did the last time.

It happens.

You have to learn to accept this fact. If you don’t, then you’ll get frustrated.

Patience is crucial to weightlifting.

You need to be in it for the long haul. Take each failure as a bump in the road. It may be annoying. But it’s part of life.

If you can handle this, then your self-discipline will improve dramatically!

Failure humbles you

Failure can be annoying.

For example, you want to hit 12 reps for an exercise, which is the top of your rep range for the exercise. If you get 12 clean reps you can increase the weight for the next set. You’ve been building up to this big set for a few weeks.

But when you get ready for this big set, you get only 9 reps instead of the 12 you aimed for.

You’ll feel annoyed. Upset. Frustrated. Disappointed. And so on.

This outcome was not what you expected. And it throws you off mentally.

You get unfocused. The next set was supposed to be a new PR attempt, but now it’s not going to be.

This situation humbles you. You weren’t quite ready to increase the weight yet. It’ll have to wait until next time.

So, you need to adjust your plan. You have to shift your mindset and prepare for the next set, which will now not be a PR.

And you have to shift your mindset quickly. You can’t take all day to process your emotions. You have just a few minutes of rest between sets.

This situation is a test of your mental fortitude.

It teaches you how you respond to adversity. Do you adjust and make the best of the situation? Or do you wallow in your frustration and let the next set be unfocused and sloppy?

Failure is growth

Failure is a sign that you’re making progress. It may not be the amount of progress you hope for. But it’s progress nonetheless.

If you’re increasing the reps or weight each week, then you’re making progress. You’re getting stronger.

One set that failed early isn’t cause for concern. In the big picture, it’s just a blip. No big deal. But if this early failed set becomes a trend, then it can become an issue. Especially if you are plateauing on the same weight for weeks and months.

Each time you hit failure, you hit your limit. It’s the best you can do.

You gave your best effort, and the results were all you could get at that time. You’ll gain confidence knowing that you gave your best effort. And each time you hit failure, your confidence increases.

Failure motivates you to do better the next time. In the next set, you want to push yourself a little bit harder. The next workout you want to do a little bit better. And so on.

Failure fuels your ambition, which helps you grow more.

Wrapping up

The art of failure is one of the most important lessons you can learn from lifting.

Failure shows you where you’re at.

It shows you your mental fortitude.

And failure provides an opportunity for self-reflection. This helps you improve your weightlifting skills and your character.

Embrace failure... You’ll gain powerful psychological benefits, build muscle, and get stronger!