The Fortitude Chronicle: A Weekly Digest of Athletic Determination

Monday’s Mindset

Right now isn’t forever. It’s a reminder that whatever struggles we're facing on the field, the court, or in life, they won’t last. The losses, the injuries, the bad days—they’re all temporary. This pain, too, will pass.

Even though these tough times aren’t permanent, that doesn’t mean we should constantly be looking forward to the future. In the pursuit of any endeavor, there will be prolonged periods of struggle and sacrifice. We will have to be unbalanced in our life in order to achieve the things we want. However, focusing too much on what’s next will set us up for anxiety. We start worrying about scenarios that haven’t happened yet, and may never happen. It’s a guarantee for unhappiness.

Instead, take all that energy and focus it on the now. Become fully present during your training sessions, feeling every muscle engage, listening to your breath, and really connecting with the moment. Become fully cognizant of the things in your life to be grateful for. This doesn’t mean you stop planning or hoping for better outcomes, but it does mean you give your full attention to where you are right now, not where you might be tomorrow. This may not take away the struggles you are currently enduring. However, it’ll make the time pass more elegantly.

We all experience pain, sometimes more acutely than at other times. There are moments when we yearn for better days—an emotion I deeply understand. If I've learned anything over the past year and a half, it's that happiness eludes us when we fixate on times and places removed from where we stand now. I've wasted countless days dreaming of the future. This forward-looking perspective made time drag incessantly, and it was far from pleasant. It made me miserable and so restless I felt I couldn't breathe. My skin crawled. The only remedy I found was to consciously acknowledge and appreciate the wonderful aspects of my life that I often overlooked—things that might not be there tomorrow. My wife, my children, my dog, my family. My friends, my senses, my cognitive abilities. The list is endless. There’s an indescribable grace in gratitude. When you fully embrace it, even the hardest times can seem blissful.

This mindset isn’t just about reducing stress; it’s about maximizing performance and joy in life. When you’re truly present, you’re likely to notice the little things that can make a big difference in your game and life. If you’re struggling right now or finding yourself in a period of unbalance in life, I’m with you. I understand you. Better days will come, I promise. However, we fight through this together by finding peace in our pain. We wont just overcome, we will conquer.

To Building Fortitude.

 Best Regards,

Colin Jonov, Founder & CEO Athletic Fortitude

P.S. Want to share your experiences or challenges with us? Reply to this newsletter or connect with me on social media @ColkyJonov10. I’m here to support you on your journey!

If you've been enjoying our newsletter and finding it valuable, we would greatly appreciate it if you could forward it to your friends, family, or teammates who you think would benefit from it. By spreading the word, you'll be helping us reach more people who can benefit from our shared knowledge and insights!