In previous articles, I detailed how the Olympic barbell is the ultimate tool for developing the human body for health, wellness, and performance. I described the evolutionary force of the barbell Squat, Bench Press, and Deadlift (the sport of Powerlifting) and the evolutionary power of the Snatch and Clean & Jerk (the sport of Olympic Weightlifting).
In another article, I introduced a new outlook for achieving goals—the ODMR system: Objectivity → Discipline → Motivation → Results. This system provides a complete mental framework to succeed in training, sports, and any other endeavor in life.
The previous discussions on major lifts primarily dealt with the physical and biological aspects of personal development and their intrinsic short-term benefits. In this article, I will explore how long-term Weightlifting and Powerlifting training cultivate the psycho-spiritual level of a human being—the Will—by enhancing its two primary components: decisiveness and perseverance. Developing your Will is fundamental to maintaining the ODMR outlook over time, which is necessary to transform from a mere competitor to a champion.
Developing The Will: Decisiveness and Perseverance
Decisiveness and perseverance are the defining elements of a strong Will. Success in any endeavor—whether in sports, business, relationships, self-defense, or personal challenges—demands the ability to make effective decisions quickly and the fortitude to follow through despite adversity.
Decisiveness: The ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.
Perseverance: The Ability to persist in anything undertaken; to maintain a purpose despite difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; to continue steadfastly.
Decisiveness is essential whenever a critical decision must be made, especially under time constraints. In the foundational ODMR article, I emphasized the importance of knowledge, particularly during the Organizational phase of a process. The more information one has, the more effectively one can act decisively.
Even when information is limited, one must quickly assess the situation, make a decision, and commit fully. This is decisiveness in action.
Perseverance, on the other hand, is required when external challenges make maintaining discipline more difficult than before. The ebbs and flows of difficulty are inevitable in any undertaking, so perseverance becomes crucial in sustaining the ODMR mindset.
Fortunately, both decisiveness and perseverance can be trained—and weightlifting and powerlifting are the ultimate tools for developing these attributes.
Weightlifting: The Path to Decisiveness
Olympic Weightlifting movements are feedforward in relation to the neurological system. This means there is not enough time during execution for mechanical feedback between the muscles and the brain. The Snatch, Clean, and Jerk happen so quickly that they bypass feedback loops within the nervous system. Once a lifter initiates the movement, it is a one-way signal—the lift is either successful or not.
Because of this, weightlifters must be highly decisive. When stepping up to the bar, they must fully commit, eliminating doubt and hesitation. Any mental clutter or second-guessing leads to failure. If a lifter allows negative thoughts to intrude, stress hormones like cortisol spike, slowing motor cortex function and neural efficiency, causing the bar to stall.
Success in weightlifting demands instantaneous control over one’s volitional capacity. This is what being explosive truly means—having power and being able to apply it with absolute decisiveness. Olympic weightlifters practice decisive action rep after rep, forging an unwavering mental and physical connection to their goals. Either they approach the bar with full conviction, or they miss.
Powerlifting: The Ultimate Test of Perseverance
Powerlifting movements—Squat, Bench Press, and Deadlift—require maximal muscular tension and are feedback-driven. Unlike weightlifting, where explosive action is paramount, powerlifting demands sustained effort under extreme loads. During maximum attempts, the bar may slow or even stop entirely, requiring the lifter to generate every ounce of force possible to continue moving it.
In these moments, perseverance is tested. The lifter experiences immense muscular strain, skyrocketing blood pressure, and joint torque unlike anything else. Their mind is bombarded with thoughts of fatigue, failure, and doubt. Yet, to succeed, they must push forward, engaging more motor units, overriding pain, and forcing the body to comply with their will.
Every time a lifter attempts a weight above 95% of their max or pushes a submaximal load to failure, they reinforce perseverance. They train themselves to withstand discomfort, to persist under pressure, and to fight through adversity—both in the gym and in life.
Heavy Lifting: Major Carryover to the ODMR Life
Incorporating both Weightlifting and Powerlifting into a training program is essential. If you are not doing at least one, you are not truly lifting. If you integrate both, you will progressively forge mental and physical resilience that carries over into success in all aspects of life.
Repeated behaviors create neurological patterns—literally grooving mental pathways that make those behaviors instinctual. This is why bad habits are hard to break. However, it also means that good habits, once established, become second nature. Training decisiveness and perseverance under the barbell translates directly to decisiveness and perseverance in everyday challenges.
With time, you will find yourself making quick, effective decisions and committing to them with full confidence. You will push through obstacles with an unbreakable mindset.
Start Snatching, Cleaning, Jerking, Squatting, Deadlifting, and Pressing, and watch your mentality shift to a stronger, more efficient paradigm. The game of life is always on. Being decisive and perseverant, guided by the ODMR method, will give you the tools to keep winning. This is Training NOT Exercise.
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