The Quiet Habit That Decides Your Future (Most People Ignore It)

Self-awareness, in my opinion, isn't a luxury, it's a responsibility and I urge anyone to explore it because if we don't examine our beliefs, we risk living someone else's script. If we do examine them, hopefully if we can choose what we keep and what we discard and you know what we refine, which is always very difficult to break habits and beliefs. Welcome to the Locker Room Power podcast and today I'm going to be reflecting on 2025 and looking forward to 2026. Really only Thanksgiving and the holiday season.

Christmas in our case has a way of slowing things down or at least inviting us to pause whether we like it or not. Personally I would love it and advocate for an annual lockdown of a week between 25th of December and the 2nd of January where we could all take stock and because everyone is off, feel less pressure to work. This year. Our pause season felt particularly poignant for us because six weeks ago our wife Joy and I became grandparents for the third time. This time a gorgeous little girl called Nevaeh, which is heaven spelled backwards to add to our two grandsons and this tiny new human so, so small arrived and instantly rearranged the emotional furniture in our lives and was very helpful because it confirmed our decision to move from the UK to Delray Beach in Florida.

Of course, when you move anywhere, chaos reigns supreme and especially moving countries. And as we finalize our move to Florida, to be close to family and enjoy a different lifestyle and year round warmth, which is no bad thing. And whilst it's a new country and one I know very well having studied in Texas and travelled here so often for training camps and so many tournaments and spend so much time here, it is still a massive change and a very new chapter for us. And it's a sense that life is again asking us different questions.

But as I look back, change has been a constant theme in my life. I grew up in South Africa and left the age of 17 and had two very unorthodox parents who had adopted 6 children, making ten of us in total and rules in our household were seen as man made and therefore open to challenge. Not rebellion for rebellion's sake, but questioning until something proved itself to be useful, fair and not harmful to the greater greater good. And that idea to challenge stayed with me. It's a it's a mindset that has lived with me for my whole life.

But for a long time when I was younger, I interpreted challenges, confrontation, and I fought battles that weren't mine to fight. I had that inexperience that was dressed up as huge conviction. But with experience and awareness, the sharp edges started to soften. And for sure, like with everybody, life reveals itself to be less black and white and far more mosaic, which is a healthy thing, in my opinion. And, you know, challenge became less about pushing and more about choosing carefully where my energy can actually make a difference.

And for sure, there's unfairness in the world every single day. That hasn't changed and never will. But what has changed is my understanding that we don't need to think about all of it and think about it too much. For most of us, meaningful impact often happens quietly, one person at a time, and we can only influence, facilitate those who are close to us and those who are around us in our kind of little universe. And this podcast exists because of that belief. If something I say nudges your thinking, lightens a day for you, or helps you respond differently to pressure, then it's worth me doing it.

Not because I have some grand Y or heroic calling. I actually for sure don't. But as I've said in a previous episode, most things disappear into this huge Internet and ether of noise, this massive communication system that's been developed. But I do this because I know that words can help, and selfishly, it forces me to think about things once a week. And that's definitely no bad thing, in my opinion. We're all shaped by our environments, by our parents, teachers, coaches, and the stories we absorb long before we had the ability to question them.

Things stick as kids. Self-awareness, in my opinion, isn't a luxury, it's a responsibility. And I urge anyone to explore it because if we don't examine our beliefs, we risk living someone else's script. If we do examine them, hopefully if we can choose what we keep and what we discard and you know what we refine, which is always very difficult to break habits and beliefs. But I do think as a three time grandparent now that it's important that we think about what we pass on. And most parents do the best that they can because there's no bloat blueprint.

And that's good because the the goal is not perfection. And I think that one of the most valuable things that we can pass on to the next generation has to be a chance to do things a little better. So from our experience, if we can pass on little lessons, that would be helpful. Because despite world headlines, the world is a safer place than it was 50 years ago, a century ago or 1000 years ago. And whilst change and evolution is slow and bumpy and not always easy to see in the present, it is happening.

And I think it's really important to recognize that the world is basically a fabulous place and being alive is really, really an amazing thing. And I'm an eternal optimist, not a naive 1. I think I'm pretty grounded. But I do believe that most people are trying to be decent. Most people care. And when that's true, the world is still a remarkable place. AS2025 closed. Of course. I'm grateful for my family, for the change that we're embarking on and this new beginning. At some point, you feel you could use a steady voice, a different perspective, or some help navigating pressure or transition.

You know where I am. But for now, I simply wish that you had a peaceful holiday season and a third thoughtful start to the new year ahead. So if you like the show, please share it, like it, review it, because whenever I get anything back, it really lifts the spirit. And I'm very grateful for your time listening to me. And as always, I hope you get something out of it and we'll be back again. Take care and have a wonderful year. We're watching Locker Room Power with David Samuel. If you enjoyed the episode, hit subscribe and leave a comment on your favorite platform.

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