Quiet the Noise!

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Welcome to Game On, a weekly newsletter where I share my journey as a former collegiate athlete, e-commerce operator, husband, father, and man of faith.

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This Week’s Agenda:

• Head Space: Calming Your Inner Critic?
• Word of God: Endurance, Struggle, Strength
• Mandatory Movement: Hotel Style
• Lessons from: My Journal & Brandon Lake

Where’s My Head At - Inner Critic Deafening?

The Olympics this summer caught my eye on a particular topic in the pool…mental health. Caleb Dressel has been a staple in the last four Olympics and has had success only short of a few of the greats. Yet he’s been struggling with mental health issues since Paris in 2021, specifically around what he calls his “inner critic.”?

I’ve felt this inner critic become annoyingly loud these last few months. With high expectations come high standards, high standards around athletics, fitness, career, relationships over years create deeply embedded habits and mindsets. Life evolves and those standards start to slip, don’t seem as reasonable, or as purposeful. Yet the expectation is still there, deeply subconscious - to the point where the inner critic that once held you accountable is now screaming at every move.?

This week I was asked to speak on a panel for Mugsy at a retail conference in Chicago. I combined the trip with a stop in Columbus, OH Monday afternoon, and had a quick flight to Chicago Tuesday AM.?

Sitting pre-panel - a wave of anxiety wells up and becomes uncomfortably overwhelming. The inner critic kicks in. Thanks to a few normal but unexpected fire drills / urgent issues with Mugsy, a few pieces of mail with some unexpected/ambiguous health care and tax bills, a bit of nerves about the panel, and too much caffeine - I felt this rush of stress. Almost like being underwater in a sense. I could visibly see the Stress Score on my WHOOP increasing. I seriously contemplated just bailing on the whole thing.?

Most likely, it was the 4.5 hours of crap sleep, four cups of coffee, and not much real food/protein combined with normal nerves of the panel that kicked me into this state. My mental chatter felt deafening, everything felt tight.?

Luckily I had a few hours before the panel and I’ve experienced this before.?

How’d I get back to neutral?

1. Prayer - see below Words from God
2. Breathe - box breathing - 4 in, 4 hold, 4 out, 4 hold - 4+ rounds
3. Endure/Persevere - “this too shall pass”
4. Music - see below lessons from Brandon Lake. Or this is another?great mood changer

I found a room where I could sneak away from the noise of the conference, and this combo and about 10-15 minutes got me back on to feeling neutral. The panel went off without an issue. Crisis averted?

I cannot remember dealing with this level of emotion or stress before the last few months. I’m usually pretty even keel. I’m probably not giving enough credit to how demanding the first three months of having a newborn are to the body and mind. I’m also not really taking care of this inner critic problem that seems to be growing.?

So…my inner critic…Game On - new challenge to face head on, new discussion point for my behavioral coach, new surrender to give up to Him to guide me through.?

Feed the Spirit - Words From God

Romans 5:3–4 -?"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope"

1 Corinthians 10:13 - “No test has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your ability, but with the testing he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Psalm 59:16 - “I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble”

Couple verses this week to help silence the inner critic.?

Sufferings and testing of our faith lead to more endurance, this life isn’t supposed to be easy, and our trials endured produce more and more character.?

God has a plan, and all His people will face tests, none are “uncommon.” But He is faithful, and “will not allow” for us to be tested beyond what we can handle through Him and our faith. He allows for us to endure when we seek him in prayer and petition.

Lastly, the most important commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. Most people (including myself) neglect the last part and just love others. The command assumes we love ourselves, love what God has created, we have compassion and grace for ourselves just as we would each other. There in lines the problem with an overly active inner critic.?

Leaning into His word to quiet the noise.?

Movement is Medicine

Hotel Workout This Week - 4:30am in Columbus (see picture of a sick hotel gym) before a 7am flight to Chicago and again today before heading home - took 20 minutes each time

3 Rounds

250m Row - 10 Burpees - 10 Pull Ups - 15 Wall Balls 20#

I needed something quick - boost the heart rate and get the blood flowing after a rough night of sleep and a RED recovery on WHOOP (first in 3 months)…Give this one a shot and send me a workout I should try!

Who / What Has Taught Me This Week

My Journal: Self-Compassion / Inner Critic - I journal on a regular basis and like to look back a year or two from time to time. October 22nd 2023 I wrote about compassion and grace, to reset expectations and focus on effort. Noted, still work to do.

Brandon Lake:?Fear is Not My Future. This song was a big lift in my spirit today, we have a choice when it comes to fear, we can decide if its in us or not. Making a better choice going forward.?

If you got this far, thanks for reading - shoot me an email if you liked the new format and what other topics are of interest. If I can help you on your journey in anyway, let’s jump on a call!