Many years ago I belonged to a gym that transformed the way I think about physical exercise. The workouts were intense and after only a few months I was in the best shape of my life.

I achieved this by only training three times a week. It always surprises me how quickly our bodies can transform, and with a lot less effort than you think. As long as the intensity is high and workouts are done consistently, the results will follow.

Transformation: Mental vs Physical

The physical transformation was impressive. When I first joined, I was unable to do a full pull-up. At the end of three months, I was completing rounds of burpee-pullups (a brutal combination). But one thing I wasn’t expecting was the change it would have on me mentally. The gym, and the workouts, taught me how to endure discomfort.

The gym’s tagline was “Burn the Ships”. If you haven’t heard it before, the saying “Burn the Ships” means to fully commit to something. To give yourself no option to retreat.

Originally referred to as “burn the boats”, the saying orginates from 1519 during the Spanish conquest of Mexico, when Hernan Cortes the Spanish commander, burnt his ships so that his men would have to conquer or die. He created a point of no return for himself and his men.

In a normal scenario, the ships remain waiting, just in case something goes wrong. You give yourself a plan B. A safety net. A way out. 

The alternative is to burn the ships. Remove the option of retreat. 

Callous the Mind

So what does this have to do with a gym?

It’s all about fully committing to your workout. It’s about training your ability to go deep into the hurt locker, to ignore the voice in your head telling you to slow down, to not shy away from discomfort and pain. Callous the mind as David Goggins would say.

I often think about this lesson, usually when I’m taking a path of comfort. Running 20km instead of the planned 25km. Only doing 10 reps when it should be 15. Taking a “well earned” rest day when it is cold and raining.

I find it beneficial to revisit this lesson from time to time. Some questions I ask myself are:

How can I apply this concept to my life currently? What is the one thing I am not fully committed to? What if I went all-in? What if I burnt the ships?