Great coaches understand this, whether you’re a Division 1 college hopeful or a gifted young musician on your way to play Carnegie Hall one day. It’s all about having a process that helps close the gap from where you are to where you want to be.

Only one thing matters at a time, and that one thing is the most important thing in the world.

Motivation comes from thought. Every act we take is preceded by a thought that inspires that act. And when we quit thinking, we lose the motivation to act. We eventually slip into pessimism, and the pessimism leads to even less thinking. And so it goes, A downward spiral of negativity and passivity, feeding on itself like cancer. - Steve Chandler, 100 ways to motivate yourself

“Someday a small act of courage may change the course of a nation, and someday a small act of sacrifice may change the course of history. You must start preparing now by learning from the heroes that came before you and those who walk among you today.”

Forgiveness will never be easy. It was not meant to be. It takes a strong person to forgive. But the act of forgiving will strengthen your character immeasurably and it will rid you of hatred that is the demise of so many good men and women.

“He had this gaunt look and he wore all the pain of running on his face. You can imagine him in sight of the finish, pain clawing through his thighs, the rhythm of his heart pounding in his ears, his lungs on fire. That’s very real pain. And a very real pleasure.

To continually show up for yourself, to get to know yourself, to remove the armor, to literally change your thought processes and brain pathways is some of the most important work I continue to do. There is a different kind of stamina needed, a different kind of endurance needed, for a journey that has no finish line.

Why do some quit while others continue? Why do some assume they have failed when no one told them they failed? Why do some refuse to believe they failed when others insist they are a failure?

Expecting adversity is a hallmark of many successful people, and it extends well beyond the world of sports. If you think this kind of visualization practice is reserved only for Olympic athletes, you would be incorrect.

“Apply yourself to thinking through difficulties - hard times can be softened, tight squeezes widened, and heavy loads made lighter for those who apply the right pressure.“ - Ryan Holiday, Courage is calling