Let’s strive to overcome obstacles and focus on this awesome Kobe quote.  

“I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I’m like, ‘my back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don’t have it. I just want to chill’ We all have self-doubt. You don’t deny it, but you also don’t capitulate to it. You embrace it.” 

Kobe Bryant, 1978-2020

OVERCOME OBSTACLES!

Sunday, January 26th, 2020, started fairly average. Iced coffee, eggs, conversation, and music served as a normal start of the day. However, I was shocked when one of my best friends told me that Kobe Bryant passed away.

Everyone who was in the helicopter passed away, including his daughter. I don’t know any of the other people who were lost in this devastating accident, but I send my deepest condolences, love, and prayers to all family and friends involved. 

~

Although I don’t follow sports, I knew Kobe. I don’t live in an isolated cave on the side of a mountain, but I have fantasized about doing so. The mere fact that he was only 41 shook me quite a bit. I’m turning 32 in a little over a month. 41 doesn’t seem that far off to me. Naturally, many of his quotes have been scattered all over social media. I found one that I want to highlight.  

“I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I’m like, ‘my back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don’t have it. I just want to chill’ We all have self-doubt. You don’t deny it, but you also don’t capitulate to it. You embrace it.” 

Kobe Bryant

I found this quote very relatable, and I’m sure a lot of you do too. These words came from a legend, yet he admitted that he still dealt with some pesky self-doubt clouds. No one is immune to that. It’s how we learn to embrace it and work through it.

We also all have our fair share of mental blockages and physical ailments. That stuff is hard to block out. I’ll arrive at the gym for a challenging circuit training class, and I’ll feel my bum heel, my sore wrists, occasionally my knee and usually my back. But, I have to work with what I have to get the best out of my workout. Otherwise, what’s the point of even showing up? 

~

A significant component of self-love is working through your self-doubt and lack of motivation. You aren’t going to have the same amount of motivation every day, and that’s okay, as long as you keep showing up!

WORK THROUGH YOUR SELF-DOUBT

You aren’t always going to feel 100% physically. If you do, you’re lucky and be grateful that you don’t necessarily suffer from any ailments. Rejoice in the fact that your body feels good and fully ready for some physical activity. 

Some of us have ailments and feel physically broken due to whatever physical issues we may have but still want to crush it at the gym and reach fitness goals. It’s tough not to focus on the pain. We have to try our best. Take advantage of whatever strength you can gather. 

Then come the mental blocks like self-doubt. We must push through. Self-doubt is inevitable. It’s that irritating voice in your head trying to convince you that you aren’t enough. Tell that voice to go to hell. Respond to those thoughts by saying, “no, that’s not true; I GOT THIS. I CAN DO THIS.”

OVERCOME OBSTACLES, BOTH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL

Sadly obstacles aren’t going anywhere. Your victory won’t taste as sweet without them. You are capable of getting through all of your obstacles! Be determined! 

Picture your determination as an internal bonfire inside of yourself. Sometimes that fire starts to go out, and it feels like you won’t be able to do what you need. Grab a stupid magazine or junk mail and rekindle that fire baby! If you want to reach your goals, you must keep the fire ablaze. The fire’s flames are bound to subside but don’t ever let it entirely burn out. That healthy wildfire will come back! It’s up to you to be a bada** fire starter. 

DON’T GIVE IN TO SELF DOUBT

When you love something or someone, you don’t want to give up. Think of someone here as yourself. You wouldn’t give up on someone you loved, would you? Don’t give up on yourself. You are enough. You are worth it, and you matter! Get back out there and crush your goals! Overcome obstacles like no tomorrow. Don’t surrender to self-doubt! Self-doubt isn’t the champion here, you are.

“We all have self-doubt. You don’t deny it, but you also don’t capitulate to it…”

Kobe Bryant