From the Pure Elite Facebook Live 13/02/2018

Let’s get real
All of us at some point attribute luck or certain circumstances to the success of others. This is really just an excuse that we make for ourselves for our own particular setbacks or disappointments. We may blame our own poor execution and output on bad luck, conditions, and circumstances outside of our own control or even look to blame coaches, PT’s and gyms etc. for not getting the results that are expected; anyone but ourselves. There is a saying that floats about which I’m sure you’ve all heard, “Life is 10% what happens to us, and 90% how we react to it.” What is needed to be understood is that everyone is responsible for their own actions, outcomes, and happiness.
A pain barrier is natural and healthy
It is important to understand that everyone is different when it comes to their individual pain barriers and threshold. If you are just starting out on your fitness journey, then it may be very different to someone who has experienced barriers before and has been pushing towards their goals for a lot longer.
In many ways that pain barrier may be a mental barrier. When you hit a wall or get stuck in what we like to call your ‘comfort zone’, you may come to a natural halt. However, with the right motivation, dedication, training and often a professional outside view and perspective, it’s quite amazing how this can be overcome.

Fear
Fear is commonly a major barrier that holds people back. Fears and worries are simply mental roadblocks which can hold people back from achieving their goals.
*Going off topic slightly* – I would like to add, that just because I am passionate about the health and fitness industry/lifestyle, this does not just relate to the fitness industry, it relates to anything in life; and I often hear some people say “why do fitness people all of a sudden think they’re philosophers with their motivational ‘this’ and inspirational ‘that’”, its not like that at all, it’s that I myself and others have found what they’re truly passionate about and enjoy expressing it to others. Where is the harm in that? If this can help motivate someone, anyone at all to say one day ‘because of you, I didn’t give up’ then nothing can beat that feeling. I encourage anyone to find their passion and invest time into it, because when you do you can relate it to anything in life and help you progress……right, where was I…
Ah yes, fear…. Questions need to be asked to yourself. Are you scared of failure, do you fear change, do you procrastinate on tasks? If you’re scared of failure, why? What is the worst that is going to happen? You’re only going to either succeed and move forward or learn from it. Are either of those outcomes really that bad? Not at all! It really is as simple as that. This is where you need to change or control your thought patterns and begin to make more effective decisions. Always think about why you started in the first place.

Attitude
I touched on this earlier but your attitude towards life is completely under your control, and this can be changed/trained. Why do some people thrive and succeed while others just scrape through? This is down to their attitude towards situations. If you go into any task with a negative attitude, any barriers that you do have are only going to grow. For example, I passed a set of dumbbells to a client in the gym for a shoulder press and just as they had them on their lap, before even attempting to, they said “there’s no way I’m going to be able to lift that”, already setting themselves up for failure. This is the attitude which I’m talking about which need to be changed in order to progress. Having a positive attitude to any situation will go a long way. If professional help is needed, then there is no shame in that what so ever! This is what coaches, PT’s and close friends are for.
So… If you feel like you are not getting anywhere and find yourself stuck in a plateau, firstly:
– BELIEVE YOU CAN – mental barriers can be just as strong if not stronger than physical ones.
– Focus on past successes- have you faced challenges before? If you succeeded, then there no reason you can’t do it again.
– Practice, – remember that nothing is going to happen overnight. It takes practice, patience, and perseverance so don’t throw in the towel at the first hurdle.
And lastly,
– Seek inspiration and motivation – Make sure you have a good source of support. Supportive people around you really can make a difference. Surround yourself with those who are only going to have a positive impact on your journey/goals.
Positivity is infectious.

Josh-Blue
 Pure Elite Pro Overall World Champion 2017