Relentlessness

If you’ve been watching sports, you definitely know by now that stories don’t always pen out the way they are presented to us (the audience).

At times, those sports stories end up being even better than what you’ve expected.

While others are honestly heartbreaking to watch. But that is sports and more often than not that is life in general.

The same goes for you. You have some good and inspiring endings, but you also experience some heartbreaks from time to time.

By now, if you are not new to reading these articles, you’ve realized that no matter your situations, there will be another perspective to look at what you are going through.

And that perspective is going to be more optimistic, logical, and analytic.

Your emotional and psychological reprogramming this week will revolve around your own relentlessness to push forward.

You know that there are some days and some situations that maybe giving you more headaches than anything yet those days and situations matter a lot. The same goes when things are smooth and non-chaotic. These times matter as well.

By the end of today’s article, the goal is for you to

• embrace adversity a little better
• bet on yourself a little more
• believe in what you are offering

Here it goes!!!

Dylan Beard is an American hurdler who is specializing in the 110m hurdles. He has been on to the track scene for a while now, always pushing forward.

If your emotional foundation is too shaky, you won’t see nor understand what is happening around you

Dylan’s hurdling progression may be a little different than some track stories you’ve heard about. What is not too unusual though is that he ran in high school and college like many track and field athletes do.

The emotional part of “always pushing forward” however crystalized itself during his college years. For three of his collegiate years, he kept “knocking” at the door of a NCAA Division 1 Championship attendance. He kept improving his 110m hurdles time yet his performances would not qualify him passed the preliminary rounds which means, he couldn’t be part of an indoor nor outdoor NCAA championships.

Many would have quit by then. But not him.

And this is where a strong emotional strength comes in. For you, it may have been years of wanting to develop new skills within your job/career, improving your home, starting a family, or having challenging conversations with people who can make a difference in your life.

Without a strong emotional strength, you won’t be able to move forward for long. Everything becomes too overwhelming and heavy on your shoulders. But if you are still standing and pushing yourself forward then you are doing like Dylan is doing — being emotionally strong despite the storm you may be in.

When you know what you are offering is worth the push, you want to do your best to refine your skills and abilities.

If you are someone who gets emotionally distracted and/or convinced that such and such is better than you, then it becomes important for you to gradually reprogram your emotional stand.

Reprogramming your emotional stand means you’re attempting your best to not let everything that is happening around you be dictated by your feelings.

You have to come to a point where you understand there will be disappointments. Those disappointments are only there to sharpen your emotional foundation. Now, it does not mean you will be your best emotional self on the next day. It may take you a little while.

What matters is that you attempt your best to change whatever how you’ve been absorbing emotions. You want to make sure that when things are not immediately like you want them to be, you are able to see them for what they are — opportunities to improve yourself.

Dylan went from not making any Division 1 NCAA indoor and outdoor Championships to making his first Olympic trials last summer (for the Paris Olympic games).

What if after not making it big at the collegiate level, he would have quit and just stopped.

Sometimes, you owe it to yourself to keep going so you can see what can come out of it all!

In track and field, there are sponsors that are more common than others. Nike, Adidas, Puma, Brooks, are some that you often see and/or hear about. But then, here and there, you have some that are simply “unusual” in that sport.

If your psychological foundation is too shaky, you won’t see nor understand what is happening around you

Rewind to 2024 and before, Dylan was an unsponsored athlete. Which means, he had to work a job for him to be able to continue his hurdling aspirations.

As you can imagine, not every job can provide you with the flexibility to workout and practice your craft, travel, and compete. Dylan worked at the Deli at Walmart.

He however did what some would have never dared doing. He spoke about his intentions of making an Olympic and World Championship team. And the way he has been running after leaving college showed he had the potential to be on one of these teams in the now and in the future.

Walmart listened and invested in him. They also provided him with a work flexibility that would allow him to be even more competitive by understanding his workouts and competitions schedule.

The above gives you an understanding about the psychological readiness you have to be under if you want to keep pushing forward.

In your case, it may also be asking your “boss” or talking with your friend, or having an important conversation with a family member.

Or maybe, you have to rearrange your scheduling which you are not able to do alone. Which means, if you are not talking and having the conversations with others, things won’t move forward like you want them to.

Dylan’s track trajectory has been moving forward because he chose to be psychologically strong. He understands that he has what it takes to be among the best.

During the Inaugural start of the new professional track league Grand Slam Track in Kingston Jamaica four weeks ago, Dylan was invited to run the 110m hurdles and the 100m. He won the hurdles and placed third in the 100m. These two races accumulated on a point system. He got second overall which made him have a payday of 50,000 dollars.

Remember, a year ago he was working at the deli at Walmart. Then, he chose to talk with Walmart and the rest is now becoming history.

Such perspective allows you to rearrange your thought process about your own personal and professional life.

Everything will not always align like you want it to be. However, you have the talent and the expertise. It is up to you to move a few things, talk with who needs to be talked to, and keep pushing forward.

Dylan is starting is 2025 season well. Not only has he done well during the indoor season, but his outdoor season is starting on a good note as well.

Allowing yourself to be emotionally and psychologically strong allows you to be heard and seen by those who believe in your vision

It may not always be the easiest thing for you to be emotionally and psychologically flexible. At times, it gets challenging. However, attempt your best when those difficult moments come along to understand why they are put on your path.

You have more strength than whatever you think you have.

By continually working at reprograming yourself, you start seeing adversity differently. You start betting on your craft and abilities to bounce back because you are realizing what you are doing is valuable.

• ** Don’t hesitate to support Dylan Beard by following him on IG @thee_dylan

Is it time for your Emotional and Psychological Reprogramming?

If so, I’ll gladly bring all the great energy and expertise to help you be different in 2025. If 2024 and before were emotionally and psychologically challenging for you, it may be time for a switch of perspective.

• My National and International experience as a Track and Field athlete helps me understand the fast pace and the pressure that you’re experiencing
• My bachelor in Psychology and Master in Counseling helps me understand human emotions and psychology throughout lenses that are often different from what you’re used to
• My 10+ years as a Weight Loss Transformation Specialist and having helped thousands of people with their weight loss and fitness journey allows me to understand the emotional and psychological challenges that life has to offer

It is a blessing to be able to help you through my writings. Imagine how much more could be done once we connect and start working together :)

I’m only one click away!!

Martine