Squeeze the Juice Out of Life

Whitney Johns is a popular fitness coach, model, and entrepreneur who focuses on achieving aesthetic results in conjunction with holistic health – not by sacrificing it. Whitney has long considered herself to be an athlete, but a title she hasn’t embraced (until now!) is “boxer.” That all changed when Whitney was recently asked to participate in a highly public three-fight celebrity boxing tournament. Millions of people watched her first fight, which was held in London’s Wembley Arena (no pressure, right?). 

For Whitney, the opportunity to train like a professional boxer and compete in front of a staggeringly large crowd was too interesting to pass up. We talked about the importance of saying yes to these ideas that ignite a fire within us, even if there is some initial fear that could otherwise hold us back. As Whitney pointed out, the world is full of challenges – whether mental, physical, or both – that can help us squeeze the juice out of life. Best of all, we might just end up inspiring other people along the way – just like Whitney has. 

Try it yourself:

• Listen to the things that call to you on a soul level. Whitney didn’t need the exposure of participating in a boxing tournament; she already has a strong brand and thriving business. Still, there was something about the invitation that she couldn’t stop thinking about. This is something that I can absolutely relate to in the context of mountains. I distinctly remember a moment with my mom where I stared out longingly at the peaks in my town and asked her which she would climb if given the chance. She had no interest, but I couldn’t get the idea out of my head. Each of us has something we see or hear about that lights up a bit of our soul and refuses to let go. When was the last time that feeling happened for you? Did you listen to it or try to stuff it down? 

• Look for opportunities to become a student. Right before she was invited to participate in the boxing tournament, Whitney was coaching a client who wanted to enter a bodybuilding competition but was having trouble getting past all the reasons she could potentially fail. This became one of Whitney’s motivators to participate in the boxing tournament: she realized that she could model what it looked like to get completely vulnerable and become a student herself in a completely new way. Where in your life can you push yourself out of your comfort zone and become a student again? Maybe this looks like taking a class, signing up for a physical challenge, or starting to learn a new language. Look for opportunities to be a complete beginner and observe how it makes you grow.

• Have a short memory. Whitney’s boyfriend, who happens to be a professional fighter, gave her what she deems the best advice she has ever received: have a short memory. If you dwell on where you messed up in the previous round, you’re sure to lose focus and make missteps in the next one. The same principle can be applied to any endeavor – whether personal or professional. When mistakes from your past are you still fixated on today? How can you allow yourself to embrace the idea of a short memory and let them go?