---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only time I really enjoyed myself…"
description: "\"The only time I really enjoyed myself before was when I was training. Besides that, everything else was an absolute nightmare. It was all about self.\" ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/nigel-benn-5098_everything_the-only-time-i-really-enjoyed-myself-be_1806427.jpg"
---

#  The only time I really enjoyed myself before was when I…

![“The only time I really enjoyed myself before was when I was training. Besides that, everything else was an absolute nightmare. It was all about self.” quote by Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/nigel-benn-5098_everything_the-only-time-i-really-enjoyed-myself-be_1806427.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/nigel-benn-5098_everything_the-only-time-i-really-enjoyed-myself-be_1806427.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/nigel-benn-5098_everything_the-only-time-i-really-enjoyed-myself-be_1806427.jpg)

> “The only time I really enjoyed myself before was when I was training. Besides that, everything else was an absolute nightmare. It was all about self.”

[Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Personal fulfillment came from training; other activities felt unbearable, highlighting self‑focused motivation.

**In simple terms:** Training gave joy; other things felt terrible.

Key Takeaway

Find what energizes you personally.

Themes

self‑discovery motivation balance

Mood

reflective motivational

Type

psychological philosophical

When to use this quote

- sports training
- career decisions
- hobbies

Key Concepts

intrinsic motivation identity well‑being

Questions to Reflect On

- What activity fuels you?
- How can you balance self‑care?

A Different Perspective

Neglecting other aspects can lead to burnout.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Nightmare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightmare/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/)

## Related quotes

> [I always enjoyed the training more than I did the racing. There was a high level of anxiety in racing that I did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-lindgren/i-always-enjoyed-the-training-more-than-i-did-the-racing-there-was-a/)

[Gerry Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-lindgren/)

> [I always enjoyed the training part of baseball. I went to play college baseball and decided it wasn't for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-froning-jr/i-always-enjoyed-the-training-part-of-baseball-i-went-to-play-college/)

[Rich Froning Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-froning-jr/)

> [I've enjoyed training again, I've enjoyed pushing myself in the pool and I'll keep on swimming until I feel I cannot get any more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-thorpe/i-ve-enjoyed-training-again-i-ve-enjoyed-pushing-myself-in-the-pool/)

[Ian Thorpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-thorpe/)

> [I planted some jokes in my wedding. Like, the organizers asked me to select music. So when I approached wife at the ceremony, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/i-planted-some-jokes-in-my-wedding-like-the-organizers-asked-me-to/)

[Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/)

> [I've never enjoyed a course or training as much as this. I feel inspired, energised and more focussed about my teaching and career future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moore/i-ve-never-enjoyed-a-course-or-training-as-much-as-this-i-feel/)

[Alison Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moore/)

> [The first time I've actually filmed in London, the locations we've all had have been real inner city, grimy urban places which has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-armstrong/the-first-time-i-ve-actually-filmed-in-london-the-locations-we-ve-all/)

[Jonas Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-armstrong/)

> [My concentration level blocks out everything. Concentration is why some athletes are better than others. You develop that concentration in training and concentrate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-concentration-level-blocks-out-everything-concentration-is-why/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I always try different things to stay in shape whether it is dancing or Jiu-Jitsu or training weights in the gym. I try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-torres/i-always-try-different-things-to-stay-in-shape-whether-it-is-dancing/)

[Eve Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-torres/)

> [I injured my neck in training, but did physical therapy and thought everything was fine, but when I fell against the cage everything went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oliveira/i-injured-my-neck-in-training-but-did-physical-therapy-and-thought/)

[Charles Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oliveira/)

> [And yet, I do believe there is ultimately meaning in the chaos, and also in the doldrums. What I resist is not the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/and-yet-i-do-believe-there-is-ultimately-meaning-in-the-chaos-and/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [I don't think I suffered with depression, I don't think I'm a depressed type of person - I just think I suffered a depression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-don-t-think-i-suffered-with-depression-i-don-t-think-i-m-a/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [My nightmare scenario is that the government saves Citibank once again, as well as the other banks, and business resumes as usual. Then, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/my-nightmare-scenario-is-that-the-government-saves-citibank-once/)

[Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/)

> [So actually I'll be living out my nightmare. Trapped in the city with only Blair Waldorf to talk to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-humphrey/so-actually-i-ll-be-living-out-my-nightmare-trapped-in-the-city-with/)

Dan Humphrey

> [“The worst nightmare is to have no dreams”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-amo/the-worst-nightmare-is-to-have-no-dreams/)

[Thomas Amo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-amo/)

> [Whenever you define family as anything other than a man and a woman married together, you have just introduced an ethical nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/whenever-you-define-family-as-anything-other-than-a-man-and-a-woman/)

[Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/)

## More by Nigel Benn

> [Boxing can be so important to young people, it keeps you off the street and you can channel your energy and aggression in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/boxing-can-be-so-important-to-young-people-it-keeps-you-off-the/)

[Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/)

> [I fight in the ring on my natural abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/i-fight-in-the-ring-on-my-natural-abilities/)

[Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/)

> [In finding God and delivering his message I get more joy now than I ever did when I was boxing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/in-finding-god-and-delivering-his-message-i-get-more-joy-now-than-i/)

[Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/)

> [It's not the Dark Destroyer no more, because everything synonymous with the Dark Destroyer I don't want to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/it-s-not-the-dark-destroyer-no-more-because-everything-synonymous/)

[Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/)

> [How can I not look back and thank God for having Chris Eubank? I am so grateful he was there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/how-can-i-not-look-back-and-thank-god-for-having-chris-eubank-i-am-so/)

[Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/)

> [Conor is not emulating me. He has to be his own man and learn his trade from the start. He will fight in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/conor-is-not-emulating-me-he-has-to-be-his-own-man-and-learn-his/)

[Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/)

> [That is what I do, I fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/that-is-what-i-do-i-fight/)

[Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/)

> [Look at my family. I can't ask for more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/look-at-my-family-i-can-t-ask-for-more/)

[Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/)

> [What I like about my son is he's got guts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/what-i-like-about-my-son-is-he-s-got-guts/)

[Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/)

> [We didn't have dietitians, or strength and conditioning coaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/we-didn-t-have-dietitians-or-strength-and-conditioning-coaches/)

[Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/)

> [I started to go to areas where I shouldn't have been, like in Dagenham where there was a lot of support for the National…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/i-started-to-go-to-areas-where-i-shouldn-t-have-been-like-in-dagenham/)

[Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/)

> [I don't want to be second to nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/i-don-t-want-to-be-second-to-nobody/)

[Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/)

> [I thrive on fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/i-thrive-on-fear/)

[Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/)

> [When I was making a comeback we were talking to Roy Jones but he wasn't having any of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/when-i-was-making-a-comeback-we-were-talking-to-roy-jones-but-he-wasn/)

[Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/)

> [I don't know if I wanted to top myself or if I just wanted someone to hug me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/i-don-t-know-if-i-wanted-to-top-myself-or-if-i-just-wanted-someone-to/)

[Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/)

[Explore all 103 Nigel Benn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/)

## More Enjoyed quotes

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [Really enjoyed this blog article. Want more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/social/really-enjoyed-this-blog-article-want-more/)

Social

> [The clatter of a changing world is not pleasant, and those who have enjoyed the comforts and protection of the old order may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-clatter-of-a-changing-world-is-not-pleasant-and-those-who-have/)

[Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/)

> [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/)

[Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/)

> [I have enjoyed a wonderful run in films, so far, and I may, at some point, come back. But it will be in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/i-have-enjoyed-a-wonderful-run-in-films-so-far-and-i-may-at-some/)

[Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/)

> [I have enjoyed the happiness of the world; I have loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/i-have-enjoyed-the-happiness-of-the-world-i-have-loved/)

[Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/)

> [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dr-arnold-the-admired-reformer-of-public-schools-came-across-some/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [Yeah, I'm the Brit who isn't Lewis Hamilton that woke up and realised he was good. I got that tag because I was young,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenson-button/yeah-i-m-the-brit-who-isn-t-lewis-hamilton-that-woke-up-and-realised/)

[Jenson Button](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenson-button/)

> [There were some things that I found I really enjoyed singing about; like, on the title track, there's this film-noir character of a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-krall/there-were-some-things-that-i-found-i-really-enjoyed-singing-about/)

[Diana Krall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-krall/)

> [We are not being arrogant or complacent when we are said that our country, as a united nation, has never in its entire history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/we-are-not-being-arrogant-or-complacent-when-we-are-said-that-our/)

[Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/)

> [I've always enjoyed traveling and having experience with different cultures and different people. But it's also a wonderful thing to be able to benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/i-ve-always-enjoyed-traveling-and-having-experience-with-different/)

[Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/)

> [The whole of life is a journey toward youthful old age, toward self-contemplation, love, gaiety, and, in a fundamental sense, the most gratifying time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-whole-of-life-is-a-journey-toward-youthful-old-age-toward-self/)

[Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/)

> [I truly enjoyed Greece - Santorini. That's somewhere that I always want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendall-jenner/i-truly-enjoyed-greece-santorini-that-s-somewhere-that-i-always-want/)

[Kendall Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendall-jenner/)

> [I have known lots of adults who enjoyed similar enthusiasms as a kid and weren't encouraged and then didn't go anywhere with it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-joyce/i-have-known-lots-of-adults-who-enjoyed-similar-enthusiasms-as-a-kid/)

[William Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-joyce/)

> [ I'm often asked, "What is your favorite moment during the 30 years you hosted \[The Tonight Show\]?" I really don't have just one. The… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-m-often-asked-what-is-your-favorite-moment-during-the-30-years-you/)

[Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/)

Browse all 1,856 Enjoyed quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The only time I really enjoyed myself before was when I was training. Besides that, everything else was an absolute nightmare. It was all about self.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Nigel Benn"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/the-only-time-i-really-enjoyed-myself-before-was-when-i-was-training/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Enjoyed"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/the-only-time-i-really-enjoyed-myself-before-was-when-i-was-training/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/nigel-benn-5098_everything_the-only-time-i-really-enjoyed-myself-be_1806427.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/nigel-benn-5098_everything_the-only-time-i-really-enjoyed-myself-be_1806427.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/nigel-benn-5098_everything_the-only-time-i-really-enjoyed-myself-be_1806427.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The only time I really enjoyed myself before was when I was training. Besides that, everything else was an…” — Nigel Benn",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Nigel Benn",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The only time I really enjoyed...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/the-only-time-i-really-enjoyed-myself-before-was-when-i-was-training/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/the-only-time-i-really-enjoyed-myself-before-was-when-i-was-training/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
