
Become a better boxer through gratitude
Giving thanks and practicing gratitude is natural during Thanksgiving. These ideas are integrated into the identity of the holiday.
But we don’t have to limit our gratitude practice to just one day a year. We can engage in gratitude as part of our daily lives, all year round. When we do this, we gain more than we give.
For boxers and other athletes, learning to incorporate appreciation can do more than simply give us a positive outlook on life. Regularly acknowledging our success and the role others play in it can actually improve performance in the ring.
What is gratitude?
Expressing gratitude can come in many forms. It would be difficult to list all the ways you could incorporate gratitude into any given day.

But, at its essence, the concept of gratitude is very simple. Gratitude begins when you recognize the gains or victories you’ve experienced, especially when they’re not obvious. Once you’ve taken this step, you need to recognize the role someone else played in creating that income.
So gratitude consists of two related concepts. First we must see our victories, no matter how small. These victories don’t necessarily have to come in the form of official competitive wins. We’re not talking about records. Have you shown up to practice every day for the last week? Good for you! Did you enter the ring for the first time? Count it!
Second, we must recognize the role others played in that victory. Has a workout buddy motivated you to go to the gym every day? Have gym hours changed making it easier to fit exercise into your schedule? Maybe someone gave you a ride.
Whoever or whatever has helped you along your path, acknowledge that role. Understand that someone else played a role in your achievement. And then thank them for it, even if it’s just a silent thank you for the nice weather that encouraged you to go out for a run.
How will gratitude improve your boxing?
Currently, in the world of fitness and self-improvement, the concept of gratitude has become quite popular. But will it really impact your boxing performance? According to scientific studies and stories of successful athletes, the answer is yes.

Athletes who regularly practice gratitude recover more quickly from injuries and other setbacks. Because a gratitude practice helps athletes better balance all the demands on their time, they tend to take better care of their health. When nutrition and stress are managed properly, athletes become, overall, more resilient.
Recognizing your achievements regularly leads to greater self-esteem. Because the practice of gratitude causes us to compare ourselves to our past selves, rather than to some external ideal (or someone else’s victories), we end up liking ourselves more. A regular gratitude practice will also help an athlete value their accomplishments, instead of constantly stressing how much remains to be done.
In terms of more concrete impacts, practicing gratitude can create measurable improvements to your physical health. Practicing gratitude is associated with a decrease in inflammatory markers, lower blood pressure, and improved sleep quality.
Improving any of these will have a direct impact on your performance in the gym or in the ring. It will promote a greater sense of community between you, your colleagues and the coaches at the gym. And it will allow you to achieve better results than a more self-critical approach could.
Ways to practice gratitude
Knowing that gratitude is valuable, how can you put it into practice? It can be difficult to express gratitude for the things we experience as part of our daily lives (like a parent’s support, a spouse’s cooking or cleaning work, or a workout buddy who is always there).

To make gratitude part of your daily life, you need to focus on practicing gratitude and do it regularly. Just like developing strength or learning a combination, you have to practice it over and over again. Incorporate it into your routine along with your morning run and good nutritional habits.
To help you get started on your gratitude journey, here are four ways you can start practicing gratitude right now.
1. Start a gratitude journal.
It sounds silly, but a gratitude journal really helps you get better at expressing thanks. The goal would be to list three to five things, at least once a week, that you feel grateful for. Be sure to recognize the people and things that have helped you along the way.
2. Do something thoughtful for a friend or family member.
Think of something they would appreciate. Leave them a note acknowledging, specifically, how they were helpful to you.

3. Reach out to someone who has helped you in the past.
Think of a coach who helped you when you were starting out. Maybe there’s a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while. What about the person at the gym who held your gloves last week?
Write this person a letter expressing your appreciation for their help. And then give the letter to that person.
4. Thank someone immediately after a success.
When you win, whether it’s in the ring or in the gym, go and thank someone. Find the person who helped you develop the stamina to do four full rounds of full-speed bag work. Tell him thank you. Thank the coach who helped you find the combination you were struggling with.
And it doesn’t have to be a person. If you can think of two or three people, thank them all.
Conclusion
However you choose to express your gratitude, plan to make it part of your regular routine. If physical training and proper nutrition make up the two legs of a fighter’s successful development, mental health makes up the third. A regular gratitude practice can be the foundation for strong mental health. Tie it directly into your development plan and treat it with the same respect you would treat your time spent on the heavy bag.
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