One thing I’ve learned from doing this blog post is that backing yourself is a massive benefit, especially if you really want to do something you feel passionate about.
If you don’t, you’re only holding yourself back. I held off posting my initial blog post out of the fear of what other people would think. After coming to a point where I knew that I was stopping myself from being creative and from holding back something I was passionate about, I posted it and haven’t regretted it since.
Confidence isn’t an easy thing to get but step by step it builds up to the point where you feel like you could take on the world in some senses and it’s an incredible feeling.
I’d like to think that the person I’ve spoken to for this week’s blog post fits that narrative perfectly. I first met David Jones through a friend a good few years ago and instantly thought what a nice guy.
The more I got to know him, the more I realised how much he loves fitness and going to the gym. So much to the fact he’s now started his own YouTube channel called ‘David’s Challenges’ where he puts himself out of his comfort zone but in situations he knows he would cope in.
It took a long time for David to reach this level of confidence. He explained to me over a chat on Zoom, what experiences and feelings led to him to follow his passions.
How important is a detailed exercise and fitness regime in order to maintain a healthy mindset?
I wouldn’t say that you have to be 100% strict with it to keep that healthy mindset. What is important is to just stay consistent with it really. Like if you fall off the horse and have a bit of time away from it, it’s not the end of the world.
As long as you get back on it at some point and maintain a level of consistency, it’s always going to benefit you. It’s the same with eating as if you have a cheat meal or a weekend where you treat yourself, that’s ok. If you get back onto the diet plan or just a case of healthy eating on the Monday, that’s perfectly normal.
If anything it gives you a routine as well as a goal or purpose. By doing well with exercise or eating well in the week, that cheat meal is the target to aim for. You’ll feel like you’ve earned it and that’s what we go for when we train or diet, you’re self rewarding by getting fitter and healthier, so a cheat meal is definitely a well earned treat.
You feel much better as the endorphins get going. Of course you’re getting in better shape, not just physically but mentally. Even just with a 10 minute workout, you feel like you’ve achieved something as you’ve put in the work. The more you keep at it, the more positive you’ll feel about yourself.
It does build your confidence. You’re body is changing and the physical transformation is uplifting. Especially if people are complimenting you as that nice thing that someone says could make your day that extra bit special.
If you eat junk food and that all the time it can lead to things like depression. But a change of diet and just getting out there for something like a walk is really beneficial. Especially to get that change of mindset going from a negative one to a much more positive one for sure.
You’ve mentioned how your past inspires you as you’ve gone forward in life. How exactly does that give you the drive and ambition you need?
In the past, I quite often stopped myself from doing certain things as I’d worry what would people think about me if I did them.
For example, I went to a badminton class in the local sports centre. I would often worry that someone I know would see me as unlike Football, Rugby etc not many people play badminton. Little things like that would worry me, as although there’s nothing wrong with playing that sport, i was kind of different from “the norm” I suppose.
The same would go for meetings or job interviews as I’d be scared to speak up incase people thought of me in a different way. I kind of relish that sort of environment now as I appreciate and like the challenge a lot more. It’s a great way of approaching these things as even though I’m nervous, I know with the right confidence and preparation, you can achieve anything.
I don’t have any regrets now. The only way I would feel that way is if I didn’t do something or didn’t give it my best shot. Self doubt and confidence is a massive thing which stems from childhood, especially my school days.
Self admittedly I am quite short and I was picked on a bit in school for it. I also wasn’t the sharpest tool in the box either and got bulkier quite a bit as a result. It got to a point where I thought these people aren’t going to like you, so just be yourself and move on from them as they’re not people I wanted to associate myself with.
In school, I stayed out of people’s ways and did my own thing. Now it’s a bit different as I feel more confident to stand up for myself or speak my mind if the situations presents an opportunity to, whereas before I wouldn’t have out of the fear of judgement and ridicule to be honest.
I used to hate confrontation and I’d back down in any of those type of situations. About 10 years ago, I just decided I had enough of feeling like I wasn’t confident enough to go for things and speak up. I had ideas and beliefs which help certain situations and now it’s good not to dwell and move forward.
It was of course a great decision on my part as I feel so much better for doing it. It’s all about backing yourself and by going forward with a positive mindset you can achieve anything really.
What led you to start your own YouTube channel and what sort of response have you had?
I always watch YouTube channels which focus on fitness. I’m fans of people like Steve Cook and Christian Guzman who have millions of subscribers on their channels as well as a massive following on social media.
They inspired me to start it as like me they’ve done it from scratch. I spoke to a colleague who said that I should go for it but mainly it was my fiancée Jenna who gave me a massive boost of encouragement to start this project up.
She believed in me and supported me all the way through. There’s been days where I feel like I’m not getting to where I want, but she give me the reassurance that these things take time. It proves that perseverance is key to these sort of things and having a strong support network is massive in doing so.
In my case it’s Jenna who is my support network and she pushes me to do better things with the channel. She saw that I had the ambition to start this up, and to have her encouragement is massive the more I go forward with the channel.
Just putting content out where people feel comfortable watching it and enjoy or have a laugh is what I want from this channel. I’m doing it for entertainment and also an educational aspect. If I find something that’s benefitting me in a training or dieting aspect,
I’d share that as some people would find that helpful, but also encourage people who’re using a similar technique to carry on with it as well.
The response I’ve had is surprising as it is incredible. Going back to the very first video, in the first hour I had 30 views and 10 or 20 days later I had 20 subscribers which was so surprising. It shocked that people would be interested in what I had to say or do by subscribing to me. They’d get notifications when I’d post a video and that support is massive.
As a result of the videos, I’m an ambassador for Fab Activewear. I wear some of their stuff in the videos and them reaching out to me was a huge thing indeed. The more you put yourself out there, the more rewards you’ll get.
I don’t have a particular goal with this so I’m not putting a cap on this. The sky’s the limit and even though the lockdown has had a bit of a hit on this, I do have ambitions to take the videos on the road or in classes. Things like MMA training is something I want to do as it shows different ways of training that the people watching may want to try as a result.
Again this is something even like a ballet class. I’m not afraid of taking myself out of my comfort zone and looking to see what the benefits are in these type of environments. If someone finds it helpful that shows the videos are working as well as getting my own creative juice flowing.
Why do you think there is such a stigma associated with mental health, specifically with men?
I think it’s that men have been perceived as tough. They’re not supposed to cry and show any emotions or weakness. That’s where the stigma comes from but especially in my case with Jenna, women and other loved ones want us to open up.
It’s ok to have these feelings as they’re perfectly normal. Nobody can go through life without a certain point where we go through a difficult period. It’s hard with the stigma around mental health and that men feel this shame that if we do open up, we’re seen as weak.
From another personal perspective, my brother has struggled with his mental health for a few years now. He’s refused to speak to anyone or go to the doctors. Even counselling is something he doesn’t feel comfortable using as he sits in the house without using social networks.
It’s a very isolated environment as my brother’s case shows. That mindset is crippling in a way as it does hold you back so much moving forward in your life. You end up in a state where you don’t enjoy things as all but also you don’t have that confidence to step forward to be more open due to that stigma.
I wouldn’t say it’s a generational thing but social media has contributed massively towards things like anxiety and depression. Not just men but women and children too. Back in the 90’s and early 2000’s, it wasn’t around as life was more active especially as a child. You were out more but now it’s totally different.
You hardly heard about people struggling because conversations were more prominent. Social media has paid a major part in the downturn in these things as negative body opinions have occurred due to the fitness models and other mainstream media outlets pushing out photoshopped or airbrushed photos.
It isn’t beneficial in a lot of ways as people especially youngsters are very impressionable. My advice would be that even though I’m not in the best shape, I don’t see myself as anything but myself. When I get to where I want to be, I know that it’s due to my hard work and because I wanted to do it.
A huge message I want to send from my videos is that you make the changes that you want to make. Don’t feel pressured, it’s your body and do want you want to do with it. There’s no toxic influence with me or what I do, so why should you feel you need to take it on board?
Back yourself, know your worth and by going forward you’ll thank yourself for doing so.
What’s the biggest thing that you’ve learned since starting your journey?
If you’re going to do something, go for it. Don’t be scared as on reflection, if I didn’t go through with the You Tube channel and other choices that I’m glad that I’ve made, I know I’d massively regret it.
I’m glad I started when I did. You won’t know if you try and if you fail, it’s fine. You learn from these things, take them on board and we go again. I’d rather do something, fail and learn from it as it builds character. We learn from our mistakes as we take them board for self improvement.
It all goes back to when I started to learn to drive. I failed my theory so many times that I almost gave up in trying. I never did though, I kept going after the 4 or 5 times I failed but in the end I passed it. You get that chance to win at certain things with perseverance and ambition. If you put the work in, you’ll smash it.
Reflection is also massive. I always use that in terms of the choices I’ve made in life whether it’s what friends I have in life, the jobs I’ve done and other things. Taking time out to assess yourself is key. Quite often you realise a change needs to be made or you know what’s benefitting you so you focus on those things. Reflection is a key path in order to do that for sure.
Aside from exercise, what do find helpful in overcoming difficult or stressful situations?
To be honest, I don’t do this as often as I should but meditation is really helpful. Usually before bed or first thing when I get up, just giving myself 5 or 10 minutes to sit there, close my eyes and focus on my breathing is such a positive and beneficial thing to do.
It starts or ends the day perfectly for me as I’m sure it does for so many other people. It helps create a positive mindset and definitely clears out the cobwebs or any overthinking that you find is going on in your mind.
The last thing you want is to start the day or end it in a state where your mind is going 100mph and just giving yourself that time to relax is key.
I came across it by accident as you see celebrities trying it. I’ve read that they say it improves people going forward in terms of starting the day and avoiding that spiral of doubt and your mind racing away. Before bed it’s the same after a stressful day.
Your mind goes awake when you want to go asleep. Concentrating on your breathing for 5 minutes and the positive things in your life is essential in helping you grow as a person. I know it’s not for everyone but for it’s helped and I wouldn’t knock it until you try it for sure.
Taking some to myself and having a game on the PlayStation takes my mind off stressful things like work. It breaks the day up as well but also it’s something I enjoy. Hobbies and interests are key and if that puts you in your comfort zone, do it.
Same goes for walking. If I’m in a bad mood or stressed, a bit of fresh air does wonders for the mind as it does for the legs. There’s so many things to help you get through these tough times. As long as it’s constructive, you won’t regret it.
What would you say to someone who is struggling and doesn’t know if talking about is the right thing to do?
The best thing to do is to always talk about it. Whether that’s your partner, family members or friends, people are there who care about you. Same goes if it’s a professional as many people find it easier to speak to someone they don’t know.
Your closest friends and family will be there for you no doubt. Talking about the issues, will get the weight off your shoulders. If you don’t, it can build up and come out in toxic ways. You’d only be benefitting yourself for talking to someone.
Like I said earlier, there’s no shame in admitting that you’re struggling with something. We’re only human and a lot of us do care about each other even in the difficult times.
A support network is key. Jenna is mine and she’s believed in me from when we first got together. It’s overwhelming but it’s massive. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me and proof that opening yourself to be happy will end the right way.
I’m very pleased that things have gone so well for David. He’s always come across as a nice guy and all the positive things going on in his life are thoroughly deserved. I’m glad he and his fiancée Jenna are happy together and the support they give each other is a joy to see.
He like so many of us has had a tough journey to get to where he is now and he is certainly proving the doubters wrong. Self belief is key and I know that myself as I had massive doubts about starting my blog but I did it. Same goes for David as he backed himself and it’s paying off massively in the year that he’s been doing the YouTube channel.
By realising his own self worth and that he could achieve these things builds a good character and he most definitely has that.
The ambition he has with the channel again goes back to the “control your narrative” mindset I often talk about. If you believe in yourself and put in the work, anything is possible.
I wish David nothing but the very best going forward and I hope lots of success with the channel occurs as he puts so much work in, and deserves to reap the rewards.
I’ve posted the link to his channel as well as his Instagram page for anyone wants to take a look. I’m not a fitness fanatic by any means but they’re entertaining as they are educational and the amount of work he’s put in is clear to see.
Massive thanks goes to David for speaking to me and also to anyone who has a read of this post. If you want to do something creative, embrace that side of you and go for it.
Take care, stay safe and until next time don’t think of this as a goodbye but more of a see you later!
YouTube Channel – youtube.com/channel/UCzFx3VLukQKp6VEBZtbWehw
Instagram – @davidschallenges
MIND OVER NOISE 