Level UP with Coach M - Edition 3 - Setbacks, Interruptions & Disappointments

Hey everyone!

Welcome to another week of me — Coach M — having a real chat and sharing some news, action, and sometimes those uncomfortable truths that hit home just as hard for me as they do for you.

If you’re new here, my Level Up blog is all about personal development — becoming stronger, more self-aware, and more grounded in every area of life. But here’s the thing: personal development isn’t always easy. It’s not always about signing up for a course, reading a book, or listening to a podcast.

Sometimes, it’s about stopping for a moment, looking yourself in the mirror, and having an honest check-in .Asking: “Am I really showing up the way I need to?” That’s where the real growth begins — in the quiet, honest moments.

When Life Hits Pause on Your Plans

So, in light of what happened today — with the Cape Town Marathon being called off — and everything I’ve personally been working through (if you missed it, go read Catch Up with Coach M – Edition 55), and a trail run where we missed most of the route markers and had to figure out a way to get back to the finish. I wanted to talk about something that every single one of us faces sooner or later:

setbacks, interruptions, and disappointments.

Because life, as we all know, doesn’t always go according to plan. You can train for months, eat right, focus your mind, visualize success — and then, in one instant, it all changes.

Maybe it’s an injury, an illness, a change at work, or a family challenge that pulls your focus. Whatever form it takes, it hurts. It’s frustrating. It’s disappointing.

But here’s what I’ve learned from all of it:

Sometimes you just need a new path — not a new destination.

Your journey doesn’t end just because your route changes. The goal is still there — it might just take a little longer, or look a little different, than you expected.

Truth #1: Growth Doesn’t Happen in Comfort

Discomfort is not your enemy — it’s your teacher. We all love progress when it feels good, when it’s linear, when the wins come easily. But growth rarely happens in those seasons. It happens in the messy ones.

In fitness, you don’t get stronger during the workout; you get stronger during recovery — the time when your muscles repair from the stress. In life, it’s no different. The growth happens after the setback, when you reflect, reset, and rebuild.

So if you’re in a tough spot right now — congratulations. That means you’re in the growth zone.

Truth #2: You Can’t Control Everything — But You Can Control Your Response

When life throws a curveball, our first instinct is often to fight it, resist it, or ask “why me?” But the truth is, we can’t control everything that happens to us.

What we can control is how we respond.

In fitness, that might mean adjusting your training plan when your body needs rest instead of pushing harder.

In recovery, it might mean being patient with your progress instead of rushing to get “back to normal.

In work, it might mean pivoting toward new opportunities when something falls through.

And in family life, it’s often about learning to communicate and connect differently through seasons of change.

You might not be able to change the interruption — but you can always choose your reaction. That’s where your power lies.

Truth #3: Rest Isn’t Weakness

Let’s talk about this one, because it’s big. We live in a “go harder” culture. If you’re not constantly grinding, it can feel like you’re falling behind. But that mindset is toxic.

Rest is part of progress. It’s not quitting — it’s recharging.

When you’re recovering from illness, burnout, or even emotional exhaustion, rest isn’t laziness. It’s how you rebuild. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and you can’t perform your best when you’re constantly running on fumes.

Rest isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom.

Truth #4: Your Identity Isn’t Defined by Performance

This is a tough one, especially for high achievers — athletes, professionals, parents, anyone used to being “the strong one.”

When your plans fall apart, it’s easy to feel like you’ve fallen apart with them. But your worth isn’t tied to your last race, your last success, or your productivity.

You are more than what you do. You are who you are becoming in the process.

You don’t need to prove your value through constant performance. Showing up, even imperfectly, still counts.

Truth #5: Discomfort Points to Direction

Here’s a mindset shift that changed everything for me: Discomfort doesn’t always mean stop. Sometimes it’s your sign to keep going.

When something feels uncomfortable, it’s often because you’re stepping into a new level. Growth doesn’t feel smooth — it feels stretching, uncertain, and even painful at times.

In training, discomfort is a sign your body is adapting.

In career or family, discomfort can mean you’re breaking old patterns to build something stronger.

So instead of running from it, lean in.

Ask what it’s teaching you.

Because often, that’s exactly where the next level of your growth is waiting.

The New Path Mindset

Here’s the truth: setbacks are not stop signs — they’re redirections.

The marathon being called off didn’t erase the months of preparation, dedication, and discipline.

Every early morning, every run, every choice to show up still built endurance, character, and strength.

It’s the same in life:

• That illness you’re recovering from? It’s teaching you gratitude and self-care.

• That career delay? It’s guiding you toward alignment and purpose.

• That family challenge? It’s deepening your patience, compassion, and perspective.

You’re not off track — you’re just on a new path. The destination — your growth, your success, your purpose — hasn’t changed.

🔑 Don’t change the end journey. Just adjust the route.

Pulling Through — Fitness, Recovery, Work, and Family

No matter where life interrupts you, the principles stay the same:

• In fitness, honour your body’s rhythm — progress isn’t lost because you pause.

• In illness recovery, small steps are still forward steps. Healing is progress, not delay.

• In work, a setback might just be the space you need to innovate or pivot.

• In family, the hardest moments often open the door to the most meaningful growth.

Each area of life mirrors the others. The way you handle a cancelled race says something about how you’ll handle bigger disappointments too. Every situation is training — not just for the body, but for the mind and spirit.

Final Thoughts

If this week hasn’t gone your way — if you’re feeling disappointed, restless, or defeated — remember this:

Life doesn’t always move in a straight line. It twists, turns, pauses, and redirects — but it’s still taking you somewhere.

Every setback has a message. Every interruption has a lesson. And every disappointment carries an invitation to realign, refocus, and rise stronger.

Personal development isn’t about perfection — it’s about persistence. It’s about learning to bend without breaking, to rest without quitting, and to trust the process even when you can’t see the full picture.

So keep showing up. Keep believing. Keep levelling up.

Because sometimes the path changes — but the destination stays the same.

You’ve got this.– Coach M

✨ Challenge of the Week

Take 10 minutes today for an honest check-in with yourself.

Ask:

1. Where in my life have I faced an interruption or disappointment recently?

2. What lesson or redirection might it be offering me?

3. What does my new path toward the same goal look like?

   
   

Then, write it down — one small step you can take this week to move forward again.

Remember: it’s not about starting over. It’s about continuing on — just on a different path. Have A Brilliant week everyone!