Don’t tell me I can’t or get in my way

This post might seem like an unusual detour from the normal content of the blog. Hopefully it will make some kind of sense, though.

One of the things that has long motivated me is someone telling me I can’t do something. I’m not talking about not being allowed. I’m talking about not being capable. One of the surest ways to motivate me is to say “You can’t…”

This is even more so when people throw obstacles in my way in one form or another.

I recently came across a song that kind of encapsulates my feeling on the subject. It’s Throne by Bring Me The Horizon. It’s an angry song in the hard rock genre that may not suit everyone’s musical tastes. As the lyrics below indicate, though, it’s basically about sticking it to those who put you down by not just succeeding, but coming out on top.

Here are the lyrics (courtesy azlyrics.com)

Remember the moment you left me alone and
Broke every promise you ever made
I was an ocean, lost in the open
Nothing could take the pain away

So you can throw me to the wolves
Tomorrow I will come back
Leader of the whole pack
Beat me black and blue
Every wound will shape me
Every scar will build my throne

The sticks and the stones that
You used to throw have
Built me an empire
So don’t even try
To cry me a river
Cause I forgive you
You are the reason I still fight

[x2:]
So you can throw me to the wolves
Tomorrow I will come back
Leader of the whole pack
Beat me black and blue
Every wound will shape me
Every scar will build my throne

[x2:]
I’ll leave you choking
On every word you left unspoken
Rebuild all that you’ve broken
And now you know

Every wound will shape me
Every scar will build my throne

So you can throw me to the wolves
Tomorrow I will come back
Leader of the whole pack
Beat me black and blue
Every wound will shape me
Every scar will build my throne

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John Forman

John is currently the Strategic Manager for Talent (oversees the national teams) and Indoor Performance Director for Volleyball England. His 20+ years of volleyball coaching experience includes all three NCAA divisions, plus Junior College, in the US; university and club teams in the UK; professional coaching in Sweden; and both coaching and club management at the Juniors level. He's also been a visiting coach at national team, professional club, and juniors programs in several countries.

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