Motivational Monday

Happy Monday Everyone!

What a day it is, despite that one song by The Boomtown Rats 'I Don't Like Monday's'. It is a great song but it seems like many people have this gloomy outlook and fear of the first working day of the week. Society pushed out the notion, people commented, made their own posts and bang, many more have this uneasy feel to begin their week. How upsetting is that!? It's no way to live. I felt it necessary to write about motivation this week and again tell stories both new and old in an attempt to have you as readers relate or even to help shift your mindset this week.

This week was like the past few on lockdown, it started out with zoom calls with my youth soccer players. Each week I encourage the kids to get out and stay active both with and without the ball. I love chatting with the kids especially because I cannot coach them at this point in time. It helps them connect with one another and also allows me to see who is putting in the work. There was a trend amongst the players however. Many had gone outside during decent weather but very few had braved the elements on colder, darker, gloomier days. I cast my memory back to the days when I would be outside in the pissing wet rain and howling winds, juggling the ball and running. I was fortunate really and didn't ever hesitate as it was bred into me from a young age. I was pushed to work hard, encouraged to overcome failure and rejection and on days I did waver, no wasn't a good enough answer for my father. I became resilient and hungry to succeed.

This week I posted a message in the U15 GroupMe App. I told the lads when I was in my mid teens, I would walk a couple miles with the ball to the park. Even on sunny days and during a hard running session, I would sometimes question myself. "Why am I doing this?" My mind was trying to cheat me and hold me back. Deep down I knew why. I had to play catch up and I knew what I was made of. There were other local lads getting recognition and ahead of me and it wasn't in my nature to quit the chase. It was these hours from a young age and a support system that wouldn't allow me to half ass it that set me on my way. I remember another event around about that time. My family and I would often go to a cottage in near Lands End in Cornwall for a week or two in the summer. This particular summer, I had invited my best friend. Vacation was incredible and in one of the most beautiful places in the world. I encourage you to research Sennen Cove, St. Ives and Porthcurno (see images above of the open air theatre and Porthcurno Beach). There was a lot of time to play and explore but summer was also off season and training was a part of the schedule. I would often run the beautiful roads and also get the ball out at the local park. This particular day, my mate and I were kicking the ball the ball around and towards the end I wanted to get some fitness in. For some reason, my mate thought it would be funny to run across me and get in the way. He was laughing and joking. I instantly snapped and got quite nasty, throwing him to the ground mid sprint. I took my training seriously and nothing was going to get in my way. Boys will be boys and later that day we were enjoying ice cream on the beach without a care in the world.

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​Let’s take a look at two types of motivation:

Internal Motivation
Can be defined as a feeling of desire, need or requirement. I was fortunate to have this installed at a young age. I did it to become better in my focus area (football/soccer). Hard work became a habit and has stuck with me to this very day. Today, I run to lose weight and get/stay in shape. This past week I got almost 30 miles in. I have an internal motivation to fuel habits in others and help change mindsets. It was fun posting to the Facebook page and engaging with others who wanted to share what they had been doing to stay active. Can I get others to follow my lead? Recently, I have a motivation to see the wildlife and listen to the birds whilst in my own little peaceful world. What are you passionate about and what motivates you to do what you do?
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External Motivation
When something or someone on the outside motivates you. I am currently in a group chat with three other friends. Yesterday, I was feeling sore and tired from the week’s miles. Sunday could have been a day of rest. One of the guys in the group posted a 7-mile run that he did. I used this this as motivation to get out and get moving. I walked a mile to warm up, ran 4.5 miles and then walked two more at the end. I had the rest of the day to catch some sun and felt good about the exercise. This is the power of having good people around you, people that you can associate with, people that have the same goals – WINNERS! This external motivation can quickly turn into internal motivation or a combination of the two. This week we are competing to see who can rack up the most miles. This becomes competitive, fun and provides a different approach. I love to compete too!

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helping others in our summit up! community

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Final Thoughts

​In closing, I encourage you all not to be 'bored in the house, and in the house bored' DO NOT allow this virus to creep into your mentality. YOU are better than average. Society has a tendancy to trick you into into becoming just another person cruising through life and wasting your Monday's away. You have the capacity to override any mediocrity thrown your way. Lean on others, lean on me here at Summit Up! Post, tag, comment and ask questions. Better still, I dare you to find that internal motivation. Until next week, Summit Up! You've got this.​

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quote for the week

"Never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time."
Charles Dickens