Arnold Schwarzenegger: A Life Fueled by Ambition
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a man who has always strived for more in life. Growing up in a small town, he knew from a young age that he wanted more from life than just marrying and having children like the usual social expectations. After watching a Hercules movie with Reg Park, he discovered a passion for the world of muscles and physical competition, and he did not stop until he achieved his dream of settling in America and making movies like his idol.
Arnold had very clear goals and was determined to take advantage of every opportunity that came his way. However, between his ambition and difficult childhood, he developed a steel shell that only tragedy ended up tearing down, as he reveals in the Netflix documentary series, Arnold. This series delves into the different chapters of Arnold’s life, from childhood to bodybuilding, cinema and politics, without leaving his successes and failures in the dark.
Throughout the series, Arnold tries to convey the importance of tenacity and staying focused on clear goals. He exemplifies how staying busy and always moving forward can help one achieve their goals, one after another. Arnold recounts his own journey of becoming a celebrated bodybuilder and beating his idol in a competition, following in his footsteps by playing Hercules in his first movie and ultimately becoming a movie star and governor.
However, archival interviews with Arnold reveal how blinded he was by ambition that he closed his heart. His father was a tyrant who forced him to continually compete with his brother while he never knew when he was going to unleash violence on them and his mother. While Arnold’s parents did not understand his passion for muscles and weights, he kept going on his own account.
Arnold’s philosophy was always to work hard, relentlessly, guided by boundless ambition. He would dust himself off after each defeat and move forward, never allowing himself to wallow in sadness or failure. His mantra of ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ was his guiding principle, learned through his father’s discipline and violence.
However, the armor that Arnold had built to avoid feeling overwhelmed by grief and emotions would eventually crumble. He admits in the series that he had no feelings when his brother and father died, due to his self-trained avoidance technique. Yet, he credits reconnecting with his mother, Aurelia, after being left alone, as helping him appreciate life’s true importance.
Arnold realized that his achievements were not just a result of his hard work, but also the support he had. He recognized all the people who had helped, guided and loved him along the way, such as his mother Aurelia. While Arnold’s ambition knew no bounds, he realized that the love and support of others was what made his journey worthwhile.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s life is a testament to the power of relentless determination and focus. He continues to inspire many with his message of tenacity, while recognizing the value of the love and support of others in achieving one’s goals.
