Stairmaster Mantras: Getting to 100 Flights
7 Successful Mantras to Carry in Life and in the Climb
You know that look. The one that says, "You do what at 5 AM?" Yeah, the one with a healthy dose of disbelief.
"One hundred flights? On the stairmaster? With ankle weights? Damn."
Damn right.My near-daily stairmaster climb is more than just a workout; it's a ritual. A commitment to myself to chase health and vitality. And let me tell you, this machine has taught me more about life than any self-help book ever could.
Back when I started, 100 flights felt like an impossible dream. I could barely last five minutes! But I showed up. Day after day. And slowly, steadily, I built that foundation.
Here are 7 key mantras I carry with me, all learned from my stairmaster journey:
Slow and Steady Wins the Race.
This isn't about speed; it's about consistent, focused effort. Just like in life, patience and perseverance are key. Moving slowly and with intention forces you to pay attention to what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. Take lessons from the tortoise and be committed to finishing the race; consistent forward momentum is the key to winning the game.
Practice Makes Progress.
What I missed today can be attempted again. Practicing allows for improvement through the knowledge of having done it before. I look at each day as an opportunity. Dwelling too much on yesterday’s misses hinders today’s progress. Focus on continuous improvement and celebrate small victories. Tomorrow is a fresh day, full of its own potential and decisions. Practice is critical for the game’s success, so while you try your best, know more opportunities for improvement are on the way. Try again and again, until you get it right.
Trust Your Step.
We have to start with trusting ourselves; doubting our ability is not the way to go, as second-guessing your footwork will trip you up every time. I cannot emphasize this one enough. When you’re doing important work, much success can be found simply in trusting yourself. If you’ve made it this far, trust you’ll be able to carry yourself even further with more experience than you’ve ever had before. Trust thy gut and thy step.
Make it Look Easy.
Confidence comes from preparation and mastery. Now this one is only important if you care about control. Making it look easy is the icing, sprinkles, and candles on the cake. It serves as a reminder to smooth out the edges, to think of the full package, and to pull my perspective out of first-person. In mastering this mantra, you learn to lean into putting performance before discomfort. You’re turning up the intensity without letting the audience know ‘we on the ride of our lives’. It's in this control that we prioritize the confidence of knowing we can do it better, even when things get tough.
Don’t forget to Breathe
‘Cuz you ain’t going nowhere without any air’. Your breathing is connected to every single part of the human bodily experience. Deep, controlled breathing is essential for physical and mental endurance. By learning to breathe better, you learn to manage your stress and stay grounded. You learn to control your heart rate, your reactions, your pace, and your presence.
Remember, there’s a party at the top.
‘Beyonce is at the top’ is actually what I say. Some days I need that extra motivation to stay in the climb, so visualizing a party on the rooftop with Beyonce is enough to keep me going. She’d be proud of what we’re doing—I know it. Set ambitious goals and visualize yourself achieving them. Believe in your potential, and let that drive you forward. If for no other reason than this, have a strong mental image of what winning looks like to you.
It’s all for My Ass
& I’d do anything for Me. Whatever she wants, she gets. I’m willing to make the sacrifice to be here every morning, working on her behalf. Delayed gratification via self-sacrifice is actually a trippy reward for future you. Self-care includes keeping promises to yourself. What was that promise you only told You? My advice: don’t quit for shit. There’s no such thing as doing too much in the name of this naturally grown ass
These lessons aren't just for the gym; they apply to all areas of life. Start by adapting and applying one at a time to your workout (and life) and see the small changes. After all, we’re training your mental agility when we are in the cardio world. You’re capable of so much more than you realize, and it’s generally on the other side of that big push you need to take.
I take so many lessons from the gym, often applying them as broadly as I can. My mantras haven’t failed me; they are words proven to guide me to, and through, success. I’ve applied their intentions to every aspect of my life, and my life is often something I marvel at. Hold these tight, as they remind us to conquer our own success; it’s nothing we haven’t done before.