The Weight Teaches You

"The weight teaches you."

Someone said this to me the other day in a kettlebell conversation and it stuck in my head.

"The weight teaches you."

It stuck because these words hold truth.

We think the teacher teaches us, or victory does, or failure – and maybe all these things do teach. But the weight teaches you, as well.

Do a million deadlifts with a PVC pipe and you might learn the movement perfectly. But you're never going to learn it as well as when you put some weight on the bar. The iron brings a different consequence than air.

So, don't be afraid to put weight in your hand. Don't be afraid to put more weight on the bar. Don't be afraid to deal with the weighty matters in your life.

That light pipe is only going to teach you so much.

That light heart? Ditto.

You must dare. You must risk. And you must believe you will recover.

The weight teaches you.

Don't be scared. Everything will be okay. You'll live through this too.