Motivation Over Competition

I’ve never been someone who’s fueled by competition. If anything, the idea of “beating” someone else has never really driven me. But what does? Seeing someone else hold their plank when I’m about to drop mine. Watching another woman push through one more rep when I’m ready to quit. It’s not about competing—it’s about being inspired by the strength around me. And on the flip side, when I’m deep in the burn and want to give up, I remind myself that I could be that inspiration for someone else.

It creates this quiet, unspoken support system, where we’re all pushing each other forward just by showing up and staying in it. By holding my pose, I aim to inspire someone else to stay in theirs just a second longer too. It’s a beautiful cycle of support.

The key to unlocking better workout results often lies in our internal dialogue. Sure, an instructor can guide and motivate you to a certain extent, but your brain—and your conviction—handle the rest. Trust me, your body is way more capable than your mind might let you believe.

Our brains are wired to protect us, steering us away from discomfort. So, the moment a workout gets tough, your brain starts spitting a thousand excuses to quit. If your brain and body aren’t on the same team, everything feels harder.

So, here are some tips…

1. Hone Your Self-Talk: It won’t change overnight, but call yourself out when your brain is saying things that aren’t true! My mom took me to a @themarthabeck weekend and my mind was blown. Our brains can totally fuck us if there aren’t some internal checks and balances. Thanks, mom 

2. Build Self-Trust: If you do a hard workout, replenish your body. If you’ve pushed it too hard, take the rest. If your body knows it can trust you to take care of it, the brain won’t always have to be in overdrive.

3. Embrace Fitness as a Lifestyle: Ditch the short-lived challenges. It’s not sustainable, we know that by now. Just decide that you’re going to be there for yourself for the long haul. It’s how I’m able to eat and drink what I want, I know it’s in the context of a lifestyle where I show up for myself and make good choices. 

4. Consistently Show Up: Every time I get in the car to go to yoga I just tell myself “this is what we do to live the life that we want” and it’s true. This is how I cultivate gratitude, and confidence, and practice self reflection. Without movement, I would not be who I am or live the life that I want. Movement to me is now more like water, a necessary part of existence. I don’t always want to drink it, but I know it’s always good for me.