Motivation Monday: What Abe Lincoln Said About Responsibility

If you’re looking for motivation on your fitness journey, there’s always an endless supply of inspiring quotes from former U.S Presidents. Along those lines, one of the best resources of inspiring words is former president Abraham Lincoln. He was the 16th President of the United States and led the country during the entirety of the American Civil War. Lincoln became such an iconic figure in American history that almost any article or artifact connected to him is priceless. In fact, a pair of theatre tickets to the showing that happened the same night Lincoln was assassinated sold for over $260K.

One of his most famous quotes can be well-applied as fitness motivation, inspiring you to be a better version of yourself and work towards a better future.

Here’s what President Lincoln said:

“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”
—Abraham Lincoln

History Behind the Quote

Lincoln famously led the northern States of the U.S. (also known as the Union) in a civil war against the Southern Confederacy. At a moment during that conflict, he wrote a letter to Edward Stanton, the Secretary of War for the Union at the time, and this quote was allegedly included in the letter.

The Perils of Procrastination

Procrastination is a formidable adversary on the path to fitness success. You could spend an eternity of “todays” planning on doing something tomorrow and never actually doing it. It’s the art of delaying what needs to be done today with the false promise that we’ll address it tomorrow.

Unfortunately, the consequences of procrastination in fitness are tangible and can impede our progress in various ways:

1. Stagnation: When we continuously put off our fitness routines, our progress comes to a standstill. Strength gains diminish, endurance wanes, and weight management becomes increasingly challenging.
2. Missed Opportunities: Each day presents an opportunity to make positive choices for our health. By evading these opportunities, we miss out on the potential benefits of improved fitness, increased energy, and enhanced well-being.
3. Accumulating Regret: Procrastination often leads to regret. As we look back on weeks or months of missed workouts or poor dietary choices, we may feel remorse for not taking action sooner.
4. Diminished Confidence: Failing to honor our commitments to ourselves erodes self-confidence. When we repeatedly evade our fitness responsibilities, we undermine our belief in our ability to achieve our goals.

Embracing Responsibility Today

President Lincoln’s quote serves as a powerful reminder to take responsibility for our fitness and training today, not tomorrow. Therefore, here’s how you can apply this wisdom to your fitness journey:

1. Set Clear Goals: Define your fitness objectives and create a plan to achieve them. Setting specific, achievable goals provides a clear roadmap for taking action today.
2. Prioritize Consistency: Consistency is the cornerstone of fitness success. Commit to regular workouts and make them a non-negotiable part of your daily or weekly routine.
3. Make Healthy Choices: Don’t postpone making healthier dietary choices. Start today by incorporating nutritious foods into your meals and reducing the consumption of unhealthy options.
4. Stay Accountable: Find an accountability partner, coach, or fitness community to help you stay on track. Being accountable to someone else can make it more challenging to evade your fitness responsibilities.
5. Embrace Small Steps: Remember that progress doesn’t always require giant leaps. Small, consistent steps taken today can lead to significant improvements over time.
6. Focus on Today’s Success: Celebrate your daily fitness accomplishments. Whether it’s completing a workout, choosing a salad over fast food, or hitting a personal best, acknowledge your successes today.

How Can Stroops Raise My Fitness Motivation?

Beyond just providing you with motivating blogs and tips, Stroops helps you get motivated on your fitness journey by providing you the tools and training to not only get started, but also to stay on track and progress towards your goals.

If you’re just getting started in your training, Slastix resistance bands make it possible for you to exercise safely and strengthen your muscles in a different way that standard weights can’t offer.

Along with that, If you’re looking for instruction on how to exercise properly, check out our Training Room for free instruction from fitness experts using resistance bands.

Wrapping It Up

In conclusion, President Abraham Lincoln’s wisdom transcends time and can serve as a guiding principle in your motivation for fitness. So, by embracing the responsibility of today, you take charge of your fitness destiny. Remember, you cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today. Therefore, make today count, and watch as your fitness goals become a reality, one responsible choice at a time.

Along with this, follow our blog for more motivation and fitness advice every week.