Getting Unstuck Part 6: Moving Forward When Motivation Fades

That hallway between a closed door and one yet to open—it's where most people quit.

I still remember the moment it happened. On national television, in front of millions of viewers, my ACL tore. The pain was excruciating, but nothing compared to the doctor's words: "This is a career-ending injury."

Those words echoed in my head for days. This wasn't even my first ACL tear—I'd already been through this in college with my other knee. I was devastated, angry, and completely lost in that dark hallway of uncertainty.

But here's what I've learned about those hallway moments: they don't mean you're failing. They mean you're in transition. You're growing. You're stepping into something new.

When faced with my doctor's grim prognosis, I didn't accept it as my final answer. Instead, I went online and searched for proof—stories of athletes who came back from ACL tears. I found football players and other athletes who not only returned to their sports but had their strongest seasons post-injury. That little piece of proof was everything to me.

My friend Jess, who had experienced similar setbacks with ankle surgeries, told me something that initially I didn't believe: "You're so much more equipped to handle it the second time because you've been there before." She was right.

The comeback wasn't about motivation—motivation fades. It was about reconnecting with my why. Why was I doing this? For all the women who told me, "Because of you, I got my first pull-up" or "Because of you, I feel stronger for the first time in my life." That's what kept me moving forward when motivation wasn't enough.

I developed a simple formula for rebuilding my confidence:

• Borrow belief (if someone else did it, I can too)
• Break it down into manageable steps
• Try, learn, adjust, and repeat

You don't build confidence by knowing you'll never fail. You build confidence by knowing you can handle it when you do fail.

Today, I've completely rebuilt my career. I run successful programs, speak at events, and help others find their strength. That injury that was supposed to end everything? It became the catalyst for my greatest transformation.

The only way you won't make it to the other side of your dark hallway is if you stop walking. So keep going. Keep adapting. And always ask yourself: What if it all goes right?