Posts Tagged With: motivational psychology

“Every single cell in the human body replaces itself over a period of seven years. That means there’s not even the smallest part of you now that was part of you seven years ago.”

 -Steven Hall

Spring is just around the corner and I can feel the excitement in the air.  As the winter sports enter the playoffs, the spring sports bring in the warm weather and all the energy associated with it.  This period also begins the shift in people’s thinking.  During the winter months it is very easy to get into the doldrums attributed to the cold, dark, and dreary weather.  Many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder which is also appropriately called (SAD).  People who suffer from this begin experiencing symptoms in the fall and they will continue into the early spring.  This disorder causes the person affected to be irritable and saps them of energy further magnifying their disdain for the winter. 

For anyone that suffers from this, the winter months can feel like an eternity.  Now that the weather is about to break, the thought of the leaves returning, the smell of freshly cut grass, and the thoughts of warmer weather bring a smile to many peoples faces.  It’s because of this renewal and the prospect of better days ahead that causes a shift in peoples overall well being.  Energy levels increase, positive emotions return, and the willingness to accomplish everyday tasks elevate. 

 As a coach, I can certainly see the difference in my athletes during the winter months.  It is more challenging to push yourself when it’s dark outside when you begin your workout and when you leave and it’s even darker.  Instead of running out of the house with a t-shirt and shorts, it takes much more effort to get yourself prepared just to have to remove it all when you get to the gym.  This constant struggle is a reminder of how much you wish the warmer weather would arrive.  It’s a shame that this happens when you live in the northeastern part of the United States but it is something we need to expect and embrace.  Because of the constant change in weather patterns and other variables that pop up on a daily basis, it’s imperative for people to adapt and have the ability to renew themselves on a daily basis. 

Renewal is inevitable as much as change.  We need to not specifically reinvent ourselves but have the ability to adjust to the changes that impact us daily.  Everyday we are changing whether we like it or not.  We are changing physically, mentally, and economically for the better or worse every second of our life.  These precious seconds that pass causes us to think “what if.”  “What if” we had more time, were younger, handsomer, more beautiful, a better job, could run faster, were bigger, skinnier, smarter, or just overall better.  These thoughts often cause us to have an increase in anxiety that will either motivate us to move closer to being the person we want to be or cause us to become depressed while we obsess on our past or uncertain future. 

If we are able to put perspective on the present and become thankful for the ability to change and to renew ourselves, we set ourselves up for positive change everyday.  For every second we waste our breath complaining about the weather, bills, spouse, children, coach, or other people/situations that affect our lives.  Someone is taking their last breath.  It is important to put perspective on what we want to achieve and the process that’s involved.  As we enjoy watching our children grow and encounter new challenges in their lives we need to think about all the changes that have shaped ours.  Reflect on how we have been able to build successes and struggle through defeat.  How we were able to regroup after a tough loss and find the courage to move forward despite great odds.  Reminisce for a second about a time that you wished would pass and now only want those days back.  I know that I can certainly think of these situations and certainly would like to do some things again.  Even though I wish I could regain the time, I know I never will.  Instead, I can learn from these memories and embrace change.  I can look forward to renewing myself everyday and the athletes who work with us at the gym.  It is an exciting prospect that we can become whoever we want everyday depending on the attitudes we hold.  Embrace the day and make every second count.  It’s the seconds that accumulate into minutes, hours, days, and years that will ultimately become the story that is passed on to all those people we impact throughout our lives.  Will you be remembered as someone who never waited to make an impact or someone who could only make it happen when the conditions were ideal?

Best in Performance,

Coach Brader