And how to use philosphy to justify the time you spend swimming
One thing I find tricky as a swimmer is balancing my desire to swim further and faster with being content with my current swimming abilities. I also want to enjoy every single swim rather than experiencing any training session as a chore.
Moreover, training to swim further or faster requires time, dedication and effort. Time spent in the water must be taken from something else – something else that might be more important than swimming faster.
We can draw on philosophy to help us navigate this path.
A Stoical Approach
The Stoics might tell us that swimming teaches perseverance, mindfulness and resilience – virtues that can enrich our lives. Cultivating these through swimming is therefore worthwhile.
They might also ask us to look at our underlying motivations. Do you want to swim faster to earn external validation – praise from your friends and hearts on your Instagram post – or for self-improvement? (Hint: they’d advise the latter).
Finally, the Stoics encourage us to focus on what we control. In swimming, we can control the effort we put in and the focus we dedicate to improving our technique. The outcome – whether or not we swim faster – while influenced by our efforts, is beyond our control.
We should take our satisfaction and measure our success from the training process, not the time on the clock on race day.
Renaissance thinking
Renaissance thinkers viewed life as a balance of body, mind and soul. Physical pursuits were celebrated alongside intellectual endeavours. Both were seen as vital to personal growth.
Aiming to swim faster pushes you to embrace the artistry of movement and the joy of mastering a physical skill. It’s a way to honour your body’s need to move.
They would argue further that dedicating time to swimming – an activity that brings joy and fulfilment – is an act of balance and self-care. Humanism in action.
Embrace the balance
Philosophy encourages us to think more deeply about our swimming and its place in our lives. The superficial pursuit of swimming faster is actually a profound practice in self-discipline and mindfulness. By focusing on the process rather than the outcome, you elevate the joy swimming brings to your life and highlight how it supports your self-care and holistic development.
Spending time in the water is not just about swimming; it’s about personal growth and becoming the best version of yourself.
A core concept of the Renaissance Swimmer project is to use swimming to help you live your best life.
