We All Need Friends who Motivate Us

Posted on by Ipuna Black

Last weekend I had the opportunity to watch my oldest son, Kobi, play soccer. He plays for fun. Football is more his sport. The best thing that has happened to him this year is that he was invited to play on a 7×7 football team, All American Pride. He told me that he’s never played on a team before where the kids hold each other accountable. Each individual action matters to the team. I’ve seen a drastic change in his life in his motivation to strive for excellence since he has been part of this 7×7 football team. We all need friends who motivate us. We are our biggest critic. Positive friends can help us feel like we can achieve the impossible.

Here is a clip of All American Pride winning the Adidas Invitational Tournament on March 4, 2017. Yes, that is Snoop Dogg!

The Impact You Can Have on Another Person

As I had indicated, since Kobi has played for All American Pride, his confidence has increased leaps and bounds. He showed me a 5-star football recruit on Twitter and said, “Mom, I defended him, and it wasn’t that hard! I can do this.”

“I can do this.” What great words. Yes, he can, and so can you! 

Kobi wanted to play on a recreational soccer team for fun. I watched him at the beginning of the season. He was present. I watched him last Saturday, and I was amazed at how much he motivated his teammates. Watch the first video. He kept telling the defenders:

  • “I needed you today, and you showed up.”
  • “I love the defense.” (clap, clap, clap- He clapped for them.)
  • “Thank you. Thank you.”

I could see the defenders standing a couple inches taller. Their chests popped out a few centimeters wider. Their heads held higher. Their runs stronger and faster. All of this because of some words of encouragement.

What Kobi learned from his 7×7 team related to motivating your teammates and believing in yourself, carried over to a recreational soccer team. It was pretty amazing to watch the change in the confidence in Kobi’s team because of a few words.

Guess what? You can have a positive impact on someone else. Instead of dwelling on all that is wrong in your life, open your eyes to those around you who may have less. Become their biggest cheerleader. You may be amazed at the impact you have in their life and how it makes you feel knowing that you helped other people. You feel needed and important when you impact another life. This, in turn, will have a positive affect on your life.

I run a few days a week in the morning with a friend. We go at 5:30 am. That’s early. I’m tired and feel lazy, but I do it. There is a running group we often bump into. If the group is resting at a light, they clap and cheer us on as we pass them. When I hear the encouragement, all of the sudden, I’m not as tired. I feel good. I jog right past them like a happy hopping bunny. Words of encouragement matter.    

Find Friends who Motivate You

Have you been around someone who complains ALL of the time? Something is always wrong. It is always raining in his/her world. Do you love talking to them ALL of the time? Um, no. Why is that? People can affect your mood too. It’s hard enough to stay positive, but to have the added impact of negative energy makes it ten times harder. As I had mentioned earlier, we are our worst critic. We don’t need any more negative energy. We have enough of that with our own doubt and fears.

Therefore, it’s important to find friends who want to see you succeed. They motivate you and cheer you on with all of your endeavors. These are hard friends to find, but when you find one, hang on to them. Friends like this make you feel like you can run a race, finish a book, finish college, get that job, start a business, win a game, etc. If you feel positive, you will be more productive. Remember?

In Summary

Whatever your goals may be, I wish you the best from the bottom of my heart. Don’t look at the success of others and compare it to your success. Look at where you are now and move up from there. That is what matters. Surround yourself with people who will motivate you to do more and be more. Additionally, remember to be that kind of friend too. I promise it will impact your life in a positive way.

You Can Do This! ✅

***

On my emailing list, I hope to connect on a more personal level and share what’s working for me to be more positive and productive. I will email probably twice a month, so you won’t get spammed!

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35 thoughts on “We All Need Friends who Motivate Us”

  3. Great post, and what a great example Kobi is! I agree that we all need friends who motivate us. In fact, I still remember a few days ago you motivated me to re-write my old novel! That gave me a boost. 😀

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  4. Beautiful post! What’s funny is that I always think of helping people in big extravagant ways that aren’t necessarily easy to accomplish, when simple words of encouragement are so easy to give! Thank you for sharing and reminding me of that. And kudos to your son and to you for instilling that in him! ❤❤❤

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    1. Thanks, Janet. I agree. Sometimes I think we need to show a “big impact,” but it’s the little things that add up into something big. I really appreciate your comment. It means a lot. We try to raise our children the best we can. Sometimes it works out and other times…well… they can make their own choices too. Have a wonderful weekend!

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    1. Yes! Well said. “Show me all the potentials I am not seeing…” I love this! I hope we do that for each other too as bloggers. Motivate each other. We may be just one voice, but collectively we are putting out some great and positive stuff! 💪🏽

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  8. Thank you for this post. I needed this reminder to know I’ll be okay with my course (there;s this woman who’s so good already and I find myself wishing I was a bit more like her – but it’s okay because one day I’ll be my own version of a coach).

    And great video!

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    1. Yes! I think we want to be “there” already. Of course! You are probably at an uncomfortable spot right now because you are growing. We need that growing period. You are going to be an AMAZING coach. I know it. Your words and thoughts resonate this, so it WILL happen trust me. And thanks on the video. I couldn’t have been more proud of him. He gives me a hard time because he is a teen, but when he does things like motivate his whole team, I remember that he is all right. 🙂

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  9. Kudos on your parenting skills! And also, all you do for your WordPress community readers and others. It can feel hard to stay positive — even more challenging to remain inspirational! — with all the darkness in the world. Thanks for being a ray of light!

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    1. Awe, than you for all of your words! Parenting is hard!!! I try my best to be an example and guide my kids. They all have to make their own choices. It makes me smile when I see them finding their way. And I agree with you on the negativity. It takes work to stay positive, but it is definitely worth it!!! I have come across some amazing bloggers, like you, who help keep me positive and inspired. Keep up the great work.

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    1. Right! I think positive energy is contagious. It should be. We can all do and be more with it. Share the love. ❤️ You got it going on to, girl! Ha ha. You are doing some great things. One step at a time.

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  11. I applaud your son! He is making progress! you’re right! Sometimes you don’t see what others see in you and it is imperative for us to have friends to support us in our journey! Life can be very ugly and if we don’t have a supportive team, then, you’ll crash before you know it. Well you’ll get up and survive, but you crash like dust in the air! Supportive and encouraging Friends are a must in life. Great post!

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  16. yes! We need friends who ADD to our lives, not people who are there just for name’s sake. I do not in any way imply that if we find no immediate benefit from people, we should not be friends with them, but the importance of ‘being there for each other’ should be understood by both parties.

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  17. yes. We need friends who ADD to our lives, not people who are there just for name’s sake. I do not in any way imply that if we find no immediate benefit from people, we should not be friends with them, but the importance of ‘being there for each other’ should be understood by both parties.

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