“Strength does not come from the physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” – Gandhi

Let’s start by quoting one of the wisest people to ever walk on earth, although we will warrant that most of us would be far from impressed watching the man try to max out on the bench press.

But let’s not hold it against him. As Gandhi himself noted in the quote above, true strength doesn’t come from being able to bench or squat a metric ton, but its source comes from our willpower alone. You must wake up and greet the day saying “Yes” to the challenges you are about to face; doing so will leave you in much better shape in the long-run, and we aren’t just talking about physical fitness here either. Yes, a strong will should help you hit the gym like you mean it every day, but it will also help you be more responsible, dependable, and steady in a range of other ways!

But how do we train willpower to be, well, powerful?

“Training gives us an outlet for suppressed energies created by stress and thus tones the spirit just as exercise conditions the body.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

For starters, don’t bite off more than you can chew. Instead of comparing yourself up against your ideal self, meaning what you want to look like in a year or two, judge yourself based on how you did yesterday, and improve from there. After all, it’s the best way to be consistent in your approach. Improving daily will set you up for success in the long run by keeping your mind fixed on short-term, clear, and present goals. Comparing yourself to someone else’s journey will only leave you feeling deflated in the end.

Mr. Schwarzenegger points out, in so many words, that going to the gym will tone our spirit as well as our body. This is because training allows us the chance to release negative energy and stress in a healthy, constructive way. Don’t you love that feeling after you leave the gym, being so empty and exhausted, knowing that you’ve given it your all? Instead of feeling frustrated about work or relationships and taking it out in other, less healthy avenues, being consistent about your physical training should help you feel better about life in general!

“The difference between try and triumph is a little umph.” – Marvin Phillips

The former NBA player Marvin Phillips is spot on in his quip right here; sometimes the only way to get better at being disciplined is to start being disciplined. You’ve heard it said that the very act of smiling can make people feel happier, right? It’s the same, “fake it ‘till you make it” principle in action with exercising consistently.

What Marvin points out is that the “umph” is often the difference between winning and losing. The last “umph” might only be a 1 percent difference in actual effort, but that extra percent or two between “trying hard” and “giving everything you’ve got” can make all the difference in the end.