For as long as I can remember, I have been a fan of what I imagine are football locker room speeches right before the game. Coaches, pumping up their players with words of wisdom that I wish I had heard growing up. I’ve always enjoyed a little tough love when it comes to pushing myself forward. It has also crossed my mind that I need a playlist of these motivational messages for my next race. How can you not be motivated to keep pushing forward when Eric Thomas is yelling in your ear, You will not defeat me! When your brain tells you to give in, you push forward. You fight through that fatigue. On the other side of that, is your greatness.
There is power in words. The things we tell ourselves influence our actions. Recently I came across a podcast by Ben Lionel Scott which is basically 10 minute compilations of some pretty compelling speeches. Every episode has a theme - Win the Day, I will not Quit, Discipline your Mind, Wake up and Grind, etc. I listen to it every day and I love it. Yesterday during my 7x1 mile workout at half marathon pace, I let my mind do the work. I pushed. I challenged myself, and when my legs started to feel the burn, I said, Oh hi, I’ve been waiting for you. But I’m going to keep going in spite of you. I had an amazing workout, not because it felt easy, but because my feelings didn’t keep me from pushing forward when it got a little uncomfortable. I walked off that track dreaming a little bigger than I did the day before. And now I’m asking myself this: Am I living up to my potential? Am I working towards greatness? Am I doing what I was put here on this earth to do? I haven’t done a great job at being able to answer yes to these questions in the past, but I’m working to change that.
Here is a list of what is currently running through my head when I want to sleep in, keep scrolling, or quit a workout:
You’re already in pain. Get a reward for it. (THIS is going to be my go to for my race next month.)
Break through that barrier and create new ones.
I will not be defeated. I will not be destroyed. You will not break me
You’ve got to start seeing possibilities for your life you’ve never seen before.
You’ve got to start using your mind to break through all of these roadblocks that exist before you.
If it’s going to happen, it’s up to you to make it happen.
You have to affirm to yourself that you’ve got what it takes to get through this.
I’m tired of being average.
You can always better your best. All you’re looking for is new breakthroughs.
I want you to push for legend.
All great people start. They start anywhere, at any place and at any time. Just do the work.
Train your brain by doing things that make you uncomfortable, consistently
Mental toughness says not only do I climb that mountain, I enjoy climbing the mountain. I get a kick out of climbing the mountain. I get a kick out of the grind.
You have to suffer. The bigger the struggle the bigger the prize.
Expand yourself. You will fail in your comfort zone. Success is not a comfortable procedure.
The only one that can make it happen for you, is you. No one is coming to do the work for you.
Success is not given. It’s earned.
There are going to be more times you don’t want to do something than you do. You’ve got to discipline your emotions. Get control of your feelings. You’ll change your brain. You’ll get tougher. Only those who discipline themselves are free in life.
Discipline is doing what you said you would do, long after the mood you said it in, has left. (Another favorite)
Do things that suck every day of your life. That is how you grow.
What do you do when no one is watching?
Little pressure equals little progress.
Get more intense about your life.