This idea is probably as old as time, and when you break it down, it’s pretty simple: what’s actually in your control?
The truth is—not much. But the good news? The few things you can control are powerful.
One of the most important is how you choose to see problems. And yes, it really is a choice. It might not be your first instinct, but with a little practice, it becomes one of the most effective tools you’ve got.
This came up big for me recently while coaching my stepson’s 7th and 8th grade lacrosse team. Great kids, but every time I gave feedback or tried to correct something, I got hit with a wave of excuses:
“Coach, it was a bad pass!”
“He wasn’t in the right spot!”
“The sun was in my eyes!”
Eventually, I stopped practice and gave them a little life talk. I’m not sure they remembered it five minutes later, but I hope it stuck with at least one or two of them.
What I told them was this:
Don’t outsource your problems—because when you do, you give away your power to fix them.
If something in your life isn’t working and you decide it’s someone else’s fault, then guess what? You can’t fix it. You’re stuck, waiting on someone else to change, and that’s rarely going to happen.
But the moment you decide to take responsibility—even if it’s not technically “your fault”—you start unlocking solutions. Your brain switches from blame to problem-solving. And that shift changes everything.
Even if you can’t fix the problem directly, you’ve taken back control over your path forward.
You might still need help. You might still need to delegate or get support. But now you’re owning the responsibility to act—not passing it off with the hope that someone else will take care of it.
Unfortunately, there’s a whole part of the fitness and health industry that wants you to believe your problems aren’t your fault.
They want you to think you’re powerless.
The message is everywhere: you’re too busy, your body’s working against you, it’s just your genes or your metabolism. But don’t worry—they’ve got a pill, a powder, or a 30-day detox for that.
It’s all designed to feel easier. And honestly, who doesn’t want easier?
But here’s the truth: real change is hard. It stays hard. But the more you take ownership and step into that hard work, the better you get at it.
The best part?
You don’t have to do any of this alone.
Surround yourself with people who support you. Better yet, find a community that understands where you’re at, knows how to help you take the next step, and genuinely cares about your journey.
That’s what we’re building at Formidable Strength and Conditioning. And if you’re ready to stop outsourcing and start owning your health, we’re here to help—just reach out.
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https://feeds.captivate.fm/formidable-is-family/
