Bodybuilding veteran Arnold Schwarzenegger is a household name now thanks to his Hollywood as well as political presence. Having a massive following, Schwarzenegger has surely motivated and inspired countless individuals to embark on their fitness journey and transform themselves. Moreover, Schwarzenegger’s Pump Club community gets exclusive daily content from The Austrian Oak, where he often organizes Q&A sessions as well.

Five years ago, Schwarzenegger received a message from one of his fans who admitted that he was grappling with depression and was looking for Arnold to motivate him to get a gym membership. Schwarzenegger did respond to the man in the comments. Looking back at the time, Schwarzenegger recently posted the screenshot along with his reply and admits that his reply still holds value.

What did Arnold Schwarzenegger suggest to the man?

When battling depression, every action may seem daunting, even getting out of bed. Talking along the same lines, the man admitted, “I’ve been depressed for months and haven’t hit the gym during that time. Mr. Schwarzenegger can you please tell me to get off my lazy ass and hit the gym?” Realizing the power of starting small, Schwarzenegger sensitively dealt with the situation and wrote, “I’m not going to be that hard on you. Please don’t be that hard on yourself. We all go through challenges, we all go through failure.”

Continuing further, Schwarzenegger wrote, “Just do something. One step at a time, I hope you feel better and get back to the gym. But don’t beat yourself up, because that’s just useless talk.” He also insisted on asking for help whenever needed instead of keeping it to himself.

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Recalling the incident, Schwarzenegger recently posted a screenshot of the conversation and wrote in his tweet, “This is 5 years old, and it is still true. Don’t ever beat yourself up.” 

Schwarzenegger’s emphasis on ‘one step at a time’ extends beyond the realm of fitness and bodybuilding as well. Progressive overload is what helps an individual strive through tough times and improve himself. Whether it’s fighting depression or any other critical aspect of life, being kind to yourself and gradually progressing is the key. What are your views on Schwarzenegger’s advice? Let us know in the comments.

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