Apart from being one of the most influential stars of all time for his contributions to the industry, being an affectionate father and a family man is currently more important to Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Despite facing several struggles and experiencing hardship from a pretty young age, the former Mr. Olympia winner hasn’t compromised with the upbringing of all of his kids.

Even though his father’s tough upbringing did eventually bring out the best in him and led him to cement his name at the top of the Industry, Schwarzenegger doesn’t rely on the same method.

Growing up poor increased Arnold Schwarzenegger’s hunger for success

While reflecting on his childhood, Arnold Schwarzenegger opened up about the struggles he had to endure, and growing up poor under the supervision of a strict father.

Considering his father’s military background, he was pretty hard on a young Schwarzenegger.

But despite all the difficulties, The Terminator star believed that the tough love eventually worked, following his enormous success in the landscape of bodybuilding, and later, movies.

Even though he might not have seen eye to eye with his father on most terms, the actor did admit that growing up the way he did, created that extra hunger for success. He said,

“I think that my hunger and my desire and my fire in the belly and that nothing could stop me — I think that comes from growing up the way I did,”

Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime
Arnold Schwarzenegger also shared how his father wanted him to be always useful, and explained his role in the actor’s eventual success, by stating,

“He always talked about being useful and don’t waste your time and just looking at yourself in the mirror in a bodybuilding gym so he meant well.”

Even though the tough love did work out in his case, being a dad of 5 kids himself, Schwarzenegger hasn’t relied on the tactic and is more focused on spreading sympathy and love.

Even apart from his kids and loved ones, the actor hasn’t shied away from showing sympathy and sharing practical life advice to his fans in need.

Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger used love and compassion to help a depressed fan

Following a fan’s request to get some tough love from Arnold Schwarzenegger during his Ask me anything session on Reddit, the fan didn’t get what he was looking for.

Instead of a telling off that Schwarzenegger was used to during his childhood, the actor decided to share some compassion and love with the struggling stranger.

The actor shared a bit of practical advice for the fan by stating,

“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. Sometimes life is a workout.

But the key thing is you get up. Just move a little. Roll out of bed and do some pushups or go for a walk. Just do something.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger
Although the Reddit user, who was later identified as a Canadian man named Ali, might not have been expecting a compassionate reply, Schwarzenegger’s response did stick with him.

And it was reported that the sympathy and love shown by the actor did work out, as Ali reportedly did hit the gym that very day.