From the Ring to Resilience: How Luke Campbell Fights His Toughest Opponent
Posted on 16th November 2023 at 09:47
Welcome back to our weekly podcast! We are thrilled to present a very special episode featuring none other than Luke Campbell MBE, Hull's golden boy and Olympic champion boxer. It has been a long-awaited moment for us, as it took an incredible three years to finally have Luke on the show!
Boxing Champion Luke Campbell Opens Up About Mental Health: A Journey of Resilience and Empowerment
This week's podcast features a special guest: Luke Campbell MBE, Hull's golden boy and Olympic champion boxer. It's been a long-awaited moment, as it took us three years to finally have him on the show!
Luke shares his journey of mental health, reflecting on his 22-year career. Despite daily training and maintaining excellent form, his head was always filled with boxing. After taking a much-needed break and well-earned rest, he lost the motivation to continue training. Over the next two years, he experienced a tumultuous journey filled with highs and lows, encountering some genuinely challenging moments along the way.
In the past three months, he decided to return to the gym and prioritise his fitness. During this period, he truly dedicated himself to training and experienced a remarkable improvement in his mental well-being.
This recent experience has sparked him to be a voice for others and offer support. He acknowledges that while he cannot change the world, helping just one person would be a huge success.
Tune in to hear Luke's inspiring story and learn more about how he plans to use his platform and voice to make a difference in the world of mental health. In this episode, we dive deep into the importance of mindset, learning, self-care, seeking help when needed, and being open about our struggles.
A New Chapter: An Exploration of Mindset
Over the past year, Luke has embarked on a reading journey that he now wishes had begun sooner. With the gift of a Kindle, he discovered the enchanting world of educational books. Despite being dyslexic, he overcame his initial reluctance to read and delved into mindsets. He now embraces reading to educate himself on fixed and growth mindsets.
Two years before the Olympics, he came close to abandoning boxing altogether. A hand injury sidelined him for nine long months. At 22, he stood on the verge of calling it quits; he wasn't performing well. He had gone from being ranked number one and having the best year of his career in 2008, winning the European gold medal, to going down in the rankings and hitting rock bottom in the boxing world.
Luke reflects on his journey from hitting rock bottom to reaching the Olympics when he realised he didn’t need to be fearful, emphasising the importance of giving his all and concentrating on 100% effort. Throughout his career, he experienced both a growth and a fixed mindset, acknowledging that one can transition between the two. After winning the Olympics, he fell into the trap of a fixed mindset due to external expectations. This realisation prompts him to question his identity as a professional athlete, and he becomes a victim of his success.
The power of mindset is a pivotal force in personal growth and success. Using a fixed and growth mindset at different points in his career, Luke has shown that mindset can catalyse change and growth, even in the face of adversity. It's a testament to the fact that one's attitude and thoughts can shape one's aspirations and the trajectory of one's life. Overcoming obstacles and reaching new heights in his boxing career and personal life, Luke exemplifies how an adaptive mindset breeds resilience and fosters lifelong learning and self-improvement.
Every Lesson Hurt is a Lesson Learned
During Luke's career, all failures were lessons; he considers them a further step towards improvement. He learned he couldn't give up and needed to continue giving his all despite his challenges.
Luke is part of a grief charity, The Good Grief Trust. He discusses his experience with grief and how he initially didn't recognise it, leading to difficulties in his personal life. It wasn't until later that he understood and acknowledged his grief.
Crucial life lessons should often be taught in school. How do we navigate the complexities of life? How do we manage our finances? Which bills are we responsible for? How does one secure a mortgage? How do we handle our daily expenses?
Additionally, why aren't we taught about the inner workings of our minds? Understanding our brain functions, identifying emotions, and coping with grief are all essential topics that should not be overlooked. Equipping individuals with the necessary tools to navigate loss is of utmost importance.
A profound habit that has changed life is being grateful thinking of what you have rather than what you lack. Humans tend to focus on the negative aspects of their lives rather than appreciating what they have been blessed with. Practising gratitude has allowed Luke to learn to shift his perspective and lead a happier, more fulfilling life.
Taking Time for Yourself
In the last three months, Luke's mental well-being has experienced a remarkable improvement. This positive transformation can be attributed to his focused approach during cardio exercises. Inspired by this, Lukes started his initiative, "Walk and Talk"#letstalkandwalk, on Saturday, 21st October, to provide an opportunity for communication and cardio for all that may need it. Keep an eye out for new dates on all his social media platforms.
It's incredible how spending time outdoors in the fresh air can make a difference. Luke firmly believes that everyone should aim to walk for at least an hour every day. Taking time for self-care and getting outdoors does wonders for clearing your mind and sparking creativity. The natural beauty and silence allow space for new ideas to emerge! Not only does it benefit physical health, but it also works wonders for anxiety and stress. Walking is innate to us, yet we often neglect it. Let's embrace this natural and relatively easy activity and prioritise it for our overall well-being.
Reflecting on his current knowledge, the advice he would give to his 18-year-old self would be to encourage him to persist on the path he was already on. He would continuously strive to surpass yesterday's version of himself, fearlessly embrace challenges, and always prioritise the effort he put in.
Luke is dedicated to ensuring he allocates quality time to each of his children, eats well, and discovers and seeks beneficial therapy. He finds great value in hot and cold treatment and makes a point of indulging in sauna sessions and ice baths at least a couple of times a week. Additionally, he dedicates time to intense strength training sessions to keep his body and mind healthy.
Luke strongly advocates for incorporating self-care practices into our daily routines, whether through exercise, therapy, or other forms of self-reflection and care.
The Importance of Seeking Help and Talking
Throughout his recent journey, Luke also realised the importance of seeking help and opening up about struggles. It is of utmost importance to communicate openly, especially in male-dominated environments such as the boxing world. Often, there is a perception that displaying vulnerability is a sign of weakness, as boxers are expected to hide any pain or weakness from their opponents. However, the truth is that vulnerability is a display of strength. It disempowers the situation and prevents it from gaining control over you. Remember, showing vulnerability takes courage and can lead to personal growth and resilience.
Luke shares his experience with therapy and just talking with others and how it helped him through tough times. He emphasises the stigma surrounding mental health in sports, particularly among male athletes. He hopes to use his platform and initiatives to break down these barriers and encourage others to seek help when needed.
Conclusion
Luke Campbell's journey is a testament to the power of embracing a growth mindset, learning from failures and challenges, and prioritising self-care. His story reminds us of the importance of physical and mental well-being and seeking help when needed. Through his experiences, he encourages individuals to strive for personal growth and prioritise their well-being continuously.
Let us all learn from his journey and continue pushing ourselves towards becoming our best versions. As Luke says, "Every lesson hurt is a lesson learned." So, let's embrace every challenge, failure, and setback as an opportunity for growth and learning. Remember always to give your all and concentrate 100% effort in everything!
You can find more information about Luke Campbell on his official website: https://www.lukecampbellofficial.co.uk/
Established in 2014, the Luke Campbell Foundation aims to empower underprivileged children to follow in his footsteps. With the assistance of his team, the foundation supports numerous young individuals, helping them unlock their potential and lead positive lives.
Follow Luke on;
Instagram Luke11Campbell
Facebook Luke Campbell Official
Twitter Luke Campbell MBE
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Tagged as: The Hack Podcast
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