Brent Alexander

serving up perspective //

smashing the doubt

Category: Personal Growth

Browse the Personal Growth category for ideas on mindset, resilience, and self-improvement. Find actionable insights to help you grow on and off the court.

Freedom In Motion

“How many years can some people exist before they’re allowed to be free?”
– Dylan

55:08 | 10K | New PR

12 minutes faster than December.

I didn’t just run.
I broke loose.
From the weight I used to carry.
From the me that thought this wasn’t possible.

With every step, I remembered:
I’m allowed to fly.
The cage was never locked.

Freedom in motion.
Not just a mantra—
a reckoning.

I’m not finding myself.
I’m freeing myself.

I’m free to move
without asking for permission.
I’m free to chase what lights me up
instead of what weighs me down.
I’m free to live within my own cadence,
not someone else’s expectation.
I’m free to take up space.
Fully. Unapologetically.
I’m free to run toward myself,
not away from doubt.
I’m free to speak my truth.
Stand in my fire. Never shrinking back.
I’m free to become more me
with every step forward.
I’m free to define my own finish line
and to crush it on my own terms.

“How many roads must a man walk down?”
“How many years must a mountain exist?”
“How many deaths will it take till he knows?”
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind.

Existence can be fleeting.
But it doesn’t have to be.

Nothing changes if nothing changes.
Change is the key to unlock destiny.

A fork in the road.
Rain on the mountain.
Sudden and unexpected loss.

Some bring bliss.
Some bring heartache.
All bring change.

And it’s up to the traveler to decide the road.
It’s up to the climber to choose the path.
It’s up to the survivor to keep moving forward.

It’s up to the soul to rise on the zephyr,
embracing what was always within reach.

This is my wind.
And with it, I fly.

April 23, 2025
Alive On The Track

If you had shown me this photo a year ago and asked what it meant to me, I probably would’ve said, “It’s just a track.”

Now?
I see freedom.
I see the birthplace of a champion.
I see possibility.
I see the grind, the sweat, the growth—and the liberty to chase it all.

Purpose isn’t a destination. No one reaches the end of the road and says, “I’ve figured it all out.”

Meaning is made in motion—in the quiet moments, in the breath between steps, in the ever-evolving conversation between your soul, the ground beneath you, and something greater than us all.

The question isn’t “What’s my purpose?”
The question is: “What brings me alive—right now?”

And this picture, in this moment, means exactly that: Alive.

I feel it when my feet strike the track, when the crisp air fills my lungs, when the sun kisses my skin.
I feel it in the thunder of my heartbeat, in the silence of running alone.
There’s no crowd. No medal. Just me. And I feel more alive than ever.

Someone said to me today, “You don’t need to run. You’re skinny.”
I laughed and said, “Funny… my mom used to say the same thing.”
And I appreciate the sentiment—sort of.
But I don’t run to lose weight.
I run to feel alive.

A year ago, I was in the darkest mental space I’ve ever known. Disconnected. Numb. Drowning in the noise of my own mind.
I wasn’t in conversation with my soul—I wasn’t even listening.
And I sure as hell wasn’t free.

Since I started running, the conversations have returned.
Some of them are too raw to repeat.
But whether it’s the track or the trail, I’ve found something sacred in the discipline.

I’ve traded my chains of fear for the work.
And it’s the work that sets me free.

That’s the difference between a prisoner… and a champion.

April 10, 2025
My First Pickleball Medal 🥈

Pickleball has a way of testing you—not just your skills, but your mindset. It rewards patience, resilience, and the ability to adapt under pressure. In February, I put that to the test in a four-week 3.5 Men’s Doubles Ladder League, and let me tell you, it was a ride.

Rising & Sliding Down The Ladder

When I signed up for this league, I knew it was going to push me. I came out strong in the opening week winning almost 90% of possible points. But I slid down the ladder in week 2 only winning two out of four games. Week 3 was even worse, not capitalizing on the points I needed to set myself up for a push for the podium. Heading into the final week, I found myself sitting three places from last. Not exactly where you want to be when medals are on the line.

But that’s the thing about competition—it’s not over until it’s over.

Flipping the Switch

Going into the final week, I knew I had to play differently. Not just better, but smarter. More intentional. This wasn’t about coasting or hoping for a lucky break. If I wanted a shot at medaling, I had to lock in. 🔐

Trust the work. Trust the instincts.

I focused on my footwork, my shot selection, and most importantly, my mental game. Instead of playing not to lose, I played to win. No hesitation. No second-guessing.

And when it mattered most? I swept the field.

Every game. Every rally. Every point. I played with a level of confidence and intensity I hadn’t fully tapped into before. By the end of the day, I went from sitting near the bottom of the rankings to standing on the podium with a silver medal around my neck.

Doug, Gold medalist (on left) alongside Brent, Silver medalist (on right); Not pictured: Steve, Bronze medalist.

The Takeaway: Trust & Adjust

This wasn’t just about winning matches. It was about proving something to myself—that when the pressure is high and the odds are against me, I have another gear. I can adjust. I can fight.

Sure, I’ve had good games before. But this was different. This was a breakthrough.

Shoutouts & What’s Next

Silver medal and the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated pickleball paddle

A huge shoutout to Gearbox Pickleball—the Pro Ultimate Elongated paddle was an absolute beast. The power, control, and feel made a huge difference in my game. Also, big thanks to the City of Greenville Parks and Recreation for hosting a fantastic league.

And this? This is just the beginning.

The fire is lit, and I’m already thinking about the next challenge. More tournaments. More leagues. More chances to level up. I’ve already booked a Spring outdoor ladder league coming up at the end of April.

In pickleball—just like in life—you grind, you come back, and you medal. 🥈

See you on the courts. 🤙

March 31, 2025
The Change Is In The Challenge
There’s a special kind of satisfaction that comes from seeing a project through to the end, especially when it doesn’t go as planned. I recently tackled a home repair DIY project that turned out to be more of an adventure than I’d bargained for. What started as a simple task—replacing a rotten wall panel and some insulation—quickly spiraled into something much bigger:
- Replacing all the insulation
- Re-running electrical wiring
- Removing old newspaper insulation under the window sill
- Spraying foam sealant
- Caulking the outside brick
- Adding nail-stopper plates
- Then finally replacing the wall panel
It was messy, unexpected, and honestly, overwhelming at times. But finishing it felt incredible because the challenge forced me to adapt, learn, and grow.

summer wanted to help but she didn’t know the difference between a pry bar and a wrecking bar. and has no thumbs.

it got messy quickly

the extent of thee water damage

they used newspaper as insulation! 😱

dated Nov. 5, 1970

front page of the newspaper

I’m no electrician but this doesn’t seem right. 🤨

also this…

i could clearly see daylight to the outside! no good!

QUAD to the rescue!

we call it good.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brent Alexander (@brentalexander)

The Metaphor: Therapy Is Like a DIY Project

Therapy is like a DIY project—messy, unpredictable, and life-changing.

Home repairs, as it turns out, are a perfect metaphor for therapy. Just like peeling back a wall reveals hidden issues, opening yourself up in therapy can expose complexities you didn’t anticipate. What you thought was one “rotten panel” might be layers of unresolved emotions, unexamined beliefs, or buried experiences.

And let’s be honest: that can be terrifying. Not only do you have to confront the work itself, but you also face the uncertainty of what lies beneath. Therapy often means diving into unknown territory—places you’ve never explored.

But here’s the thing: the first time you face those fears is the hardest. Each time after that? It gets a little easier. What once felt impossible starts to feel doable.

The Transformation

Better than before!

That’s the beauty of the work. Therapy takes what feels overwhelming and makes it manageable. Over time, the things you once avoided become things you conquer. They might even become things you enjoy.

And the best part? It’s life-changing. When you look back, you realize how far you’ve come and wonder, “How was I ever afraid of THAT?” The change is in the challenge.

Ready to Start?

If you’re in the Greenville, SC area and looking for a therapist, I can’t recommend Greenville Counseling Associates enough. If you’re elsewhere, Psychology Today and BetterHelp are great places to start your journey.

Because just like that DIY project, you’re capable of more than you know–and the reward is worth the effort.
January 14, 2025
Running Into The New Year

Running into 2025 with my head up, eyes forward, and heart open—and I’m not looking back for a second. 🏃🏻‍♂️💨

This year, I’m saying farewell to the me I’ve outgrown, celebrating the me I’ve rediscovered, and embracing the anticipation of the me I’m yet to know.

2025 is my year to conquer new challenges, starting with running my first half marathon. This time last year, I had only ever run 5Ks, never daring to call myself a distance runner. But everything changed when my wife challenged me to run the Greenville Trees Upstate Turkey Day 8K. I accepted—and crushed it. It wasn’t so bad after all, so I leveled up to a 10K. Now, with a 10-miler just 30 days away and my first half marathon in 60, I’ve gone from hesitant to hooked.

They call it the “running bug” for a reason. There’s nothing quite like the rush of crossing a finish line, the dopamine hit that floods your system, and the satisfaction of crushing a goal you once thought impossible. It’s euphoric. And I’m here for all of it this year—chasing the real dopamine, the kind that fuels growth, resilience, and self-discovery.

But this journey is about more than just running; it’s about pushing the limits I never thought I could challenge. Growing up, I wasn’t much of an athlete. Between mild asthma, outdoor allergies, and a chronic heart condition called Aortic Stenosis (a narrowing of the aortic valve that can limit blood flow and endurance), I was always told to “take it easy.” Physical activity was something I approached with caution, never pushing too hard or taking risks.

Movement is Medicine.

Ironically, it’s only by stepping outside those limits that I’ve become the healthiest version of myself. As I’ve increased my physical activity, my cardio fitness has soared. My resting heart rate is the lowest it’s ever been, and my HRV (heart rate variability)—a measure of my body’s resilience and recovery—is the highest it’s ever been. Beyond the physical benefits, running has transformed my mental health. It’s my stress reliever, mood booster, and a time for clarity and reflection.

In my upper 30s, I’m acutely aware of how important it is to stay active as I age. Movement is my medicine. I want to feel this good not just now but decades from now. When I’m twice my age, I want to be strong, mobile, and capable—not confined to a chair.

So here’s the plan for my half marathon:

1️⃣ Goal #1 is simply to finish.

2️⃣ Goal #2 is to finish with a sub-12-minute mile pace (or under 2:37 overall).

And if I don’t? It won’t be a failure; it’ll be a stepping stone for whatever challenge comes next.

Growth happens on the other side of comfort.

Limits exist to be pushed. Growth happens on the other side of comfort. And this year, I’m choosing to be uncomfortable in the best ways possible.

Here’s to running into the new year with purpose, passion, and perseverance. Join me on the journey—it’s going to a maratahon–not a sprint! 🏃‍♂️✨

January 3, 2025

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