We know that successful training requires many personal attributes, such as self-discipline, determination, perseverance, and a strong fighting spirit.  It can be difficult to sustain that initial highly motivated spirit as our training progresses, our workouts get tougher and as other life responsibilities start to compete for our attention.

Finding your sense of purpose can keep you motivated and focused on your goals when challenges and obstacles push you off-track.

What Is A Sense Of Purpose?

Your sense of purpose is your main motivational force that drives most of your actions. It is founded on your personal value system; it can give you direction and guide the course of your choices. When you know what you want and what is most important to you, your life plans fall into place a lot easier.

A sense of purpose is especially useful in a sport like boxing that demands so much of us, both mentally and physically.  When there is a deeper reason for us doing this, we are more likely to push through the challenges.

For example, if you are a parent, your sense of purpose may be to instill certain values in your children, like the importance of perseverance and hard work as well as leading a healthy lifestyle. You may have chosen to instill these values by setting a great example. By constantly reminding yourself of your purpose, you will be motivated to keep coming back to training even when you may not feel like it. Defining your sense of purpose ensures you are motivated by something greater than yourself.

Of course, you do not have to be a parent to feel this way. You just have to contemplate your core beliefs to find that greater sense of motivation that drives you on a deep level.

The Benefits of Having a Sense of Purpose

It is worth the effort to ponder your sense of purpose. There are numerous benefits to having one, some that you would not have even considered.

• Having something to fight for can drive you to push harder.

• It can improve psychological quality of life. You will experience less anxiety and emotional confusion when you know what you want as opposed to having no direction.

• Improved confidence: You will feel better about yourself and the things you do, knowing that you are working towards something more meaningful.

• It can even improve sleep quality.

How A Sense of Purpose Can Help You Set Goals

Prioritizing Tasks

When you know what is truly important to you, it becomes easier to trim away unnecessary aspects of your life and focus more on actions that will directly influence you, fulfilling your sense of purpose.

Assess Your Progress

Mini-goal assessments along the way are crucial. When you know what it is you are trying to achieve, you can assess whether you are on the right course of action or whether you need to change things drastically. It starts by setting measurable goals with tangible outcomes.

Ask yourself:

·         What exactly do I want to see and experience as I reach my goals?

·         How will my life change on a physical/emotional level?

·         What are the signs that this is happening?

Once you know the exact tangible results you are looking for, you are able to tell if you are on your way to your goal, by breaking these up into smaller, more immediate signs of progress.

Motivation

You may have heard that writing down your goals is a powerful way to stay motivated and focused. Writing down your sense of purpose, or your “why,” for wanting to achieve these goals in the first place can take this to a whole other level. They form a tangible reminder of why you are doing what you are doing and why the effort and temporary pain are worth it.

How a Sense of Purpose Can Help You in Boxing

Boxing forms an opportunity to realize your sense of purpose. We have said many times that boxing is as much a mental sport as it is physical as it teaches us discipline, focus, strategy, and endurance. Most of all, boxing teaches us to have a fighting spirit! This is why it creates a powerful opportunity to exercise the core ethical values, which may form your sense of purpose.

Your sense of purpose may streamline your boxing training on a practical level. Knowing what you want to accomplish can help you define your “why” and remind you why you get into the ring. We always encourage you to know your goals when drafting a training plan, as they will determine which training route to take.

For example, your sense of purpose may be to cultivate healthier and mutually fulfilling friendships. You may have taken up boxing as a way to meet new, positive, and motivated friends and build a tribe of people you can count on for encouragement. If this is your goal, then you will want to direct your training to involve group training sessions, where you get to interact with other boxers and join training groups.

Actionable Ways to Define a Sense of Purpose

Writing Exercise

We recommend you take some time-- with a pen, paper, and solitude-- to do some serious contemplating on the questions below. Write down and keep the answers to this life-changing homework, of which you are both the student and the professor. You will want to refer back to these notes throughout your journey.

The following questions will give you an idea of what your core values are, from which your sense of purpose is born. Feel free to add more as you go along:

·         What is most important to you?

·         What makes you feel most proud of yourself?

·         What qualities do you find you respect the most in others?

·         When are you at your happiest and most fulfilled?

·         How do your actions improve your own life and the lives of those around you?

·         What do you want to be remembered for?

Trial and Error

To find what resonates with you, we recommend that you take the time and try using different forms of motivation-- both intrinsic and extrinsic-- to determine what you respond to the most. This is an opportunity for self-discovery too; you may be surprised at what drives your determination.

Finally, Take Your Time

Finding your sense of purpose is a lot like finding yourself. It is a life-long journey, and it can change as you grow. There is no need to rush it, you do not have to have the meaning of life all figured out in one day.

At Gloveworx, we are all about helping you find your sense of purpose and motivation during our sessions by offering expert advice and motivational support throughout your journey.