Remember the last time you got frustrated with your coach or a teammate? She/he was pushing you to your limits and out of discomfort you may have wished it to stop or for the set/practice to end because you were exhausted and ready for it to be over. I KNOW we have all been here.

Right now, at this moment, think about having the opportunity to be back in the exact instance where you were feeling over the edge and wanted to give up. Given the opportunity and the circumstances we are now in, what would you do to have this back?? Would you give up? Or would you fight that self-talk and push yourself a step further because you know you can do it !?

**Sparked Motivation** Mission accomplished. ;)

I brought your mind here because this scenario is important. Before COVID 19, many of us didn’t realize what it would feel like to NOT HAVE A CHOICE to be in a coach/team setting. Sure there were always injuries and other setbacks that took you away from these environments but never like this.

This is new. So, it is no surprise that you feel the way you do right now. We want you to know your feelings are valid and you’re not alone. There is a learning point and huge takeaway from all this that we want you to bring with you as we come out of this.

It’s realizing that the opportunity to be in a high-performing environment surrounded by like-minded teammates and a coach who knows how to bring out the best in you is a privilege. I want you to remember the yearning and desire you feel right now to be with your coach and teammates and never let a moment of pushing personal boundaries through the roof get away from you ever again!! It may not feel like it now, but you will come out of this a stronger person and athlete because you know how it feels to NOT have your team and your coach and you will make the most out of all the future opportunities you will get.

A team environment is critical for high performance. There is something about the energy of a group of athletes all pursuing the same goal. It is powerful. The sudden shift to solo exercise is frustrating, lonely, and more mentally and even physically straining. No matter the resilience, teammates, and coaches can take away and distract you from that intense pain during training.

Now you have to be your disciplinarian.

Remind yourself of your WHY.

WHY do you train?

Here is an epic reminder from Mike Matthews (founder of Legion Athletics) of all the things training provides us outside of being competitors. With this, we hope you round up some newfound motivation to keep doing your best with what you have and BE READY to return when the time comes.

“Most people don’t get why we do it.

Why do we pour so much time, energy, and effort into training? Why is it so important to us?

Is it narcissism, they wonder? Have we fallen in love with our reflections?

Or maybe it’s insecurity? Are we feeding a superiority complex?

Is it something darker, like self-loathing? Are we unable to accept ourselves how we are?

They’re all missing the point.

We don’t train to feel vainglorious, paper over shortcomings, or punish ourselves.

We train because it gives us more than a better body. It gives us a better life.

It builds more than muscle. It builds character.

It teaches us how to stop BSing ourselves.

It teaches us how to commit to daunting goals.

It teaches us how to create purpose and meaning.

It teaches us how to take action instead of making excuses and finding reasons to fail.

It teaches us how to stop playing the victim and take responsibility.

It teaches us how to work hard instead of chasing magic bullets and quick fixes.

It teaches us how to push through pain and adversity.

It teaches us how to choose long-term satisfaction over immediate gratification.

At the bottom, it teaches us a powerful lesson:

If you have the power to change your body, you have the power to change your life.

That’s why we train.

We train because fitness is one of those special things in life that you can’t buy, steal, or fake. There aren’t any rewards for complaining or failing, and fitness doesn’t care about your opinions or feelings.

You must give something to get something. You can’t slide by on BS. It’s called “working out” for a good reason. You either do the work and transform your body, or you don’t.

This is a metaphor for something bigger.

No matter what you’re facing in life, you have two choices: you can put in the work or get put in your place.

And so fitness is nothing if not a tribute to the primacy of effort; a reminder that unless we’re willing to work for “secrets” and “shortcuts,” they’ll never work.

If you find this discouraging, consider this: Groping for shortcuts is discouraging. Stumbling around in the dark, anxiously turning over rocks in search of arcana is discouraging. Waiting for lightning to strike your bottle is discouraging.

On the other hand, “donning the yoke” can be incredibly encouraging. Yes, it’s bulky and uncomfortable, and yes, it demands toil and sweat, but it also promises a return on your efforts. You may not always get the prize you want, but you never leave empty-handed.

That’s why we train.

Let’s not forget it.

-Mike

Original article posted on RISE

RISE Athletes are the leaders in youth athlete mentorship, with world-class Professional and Olympic level athletes mentoring the next generation to create strong mindsets and healthy mentalities. Your athlete can find the support they need, at rise-athletes.com.