Ep 38: Light Up Foundation with Keith Mitchell
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Light Up Foundation
Episode 38: Show Notes.
Keith Mitchell has lived a rich and varied life as a successful linebacker for the New Orleans Saints in the NFL, a construction mogul, and lately, a Yoga and nutritional teacher.
In this episode, Keith walks us through it all and talks to us about his darkest times as well as the moments that gave him hope. We kick off the show by hearing more about Keith’s childhood and his unshakable desire to become a professional American football player. He details his turbulent journey to the top and touches on why his mindset was his biggest asset in getting there. He goes on to share anecdotes about his childhood and family life, elaborating on relationships with his mother and father.
After hearing about his sheltered upbringing, Keith talks about how football changes through high school, college, and professional realms and the ways he adapted to each. Following this, we hear from Keith about the on field accident that changed his life forever.
What followed was a total mindset change and a new mission in life. He transformed himself and began focusing on breathing and Yoga to heal his emotional and physical state. In the latter half of the show, Keith tells us about life after sport and the new purpose he found in his non-profit foundation. He mentions life in construction, the sobering and inspiring experiences he had on Skid Row, and the lessons he learned from Dr. Sebi.
As the show draws to a close, we ask Keith to tell us more about his book and what he hopes his readers and listeners will get from it. To hear more from Keith on his career, personal life, and mission in life, be sure to join us today!
Key Points From This Episode:
Introducing former NFL player, Keith Mitchel.
Keith tells us about his childhood.
Why Keith was attracted to playing football.
Keith describes his family life growing up.
The lengths Keith went through to play football.
What it takes to be a good linebacker.
Mindset as a factor that separates good players from great players.
Why Keith chose to play for Texas A&M.
How football changed between high school and college.
Why, after eight years in the pros, Keith wasn’t drafted.
Differences between playing for fun, for sport, and for a livelihood.
Keith talks about how he adapted to life after achieving his dream.
Hear about the day Keith sustained his life-changing injury.
Keith’s relationship with injury before his spinal cord injury.
The nurse who introduced Keith to breathing correctly.
How breathing can improve your health.
The impacts that Yoga had on Keith’s body.
Keith talks about life after sport.
How meeting kids on Skid Row changed Keith’s philosophy as a Yoga teacher.
The mission of the Light It Up Foundation.
Keith’s nutrition awakening and the lessons he learned from Dr. Sebi.
Hear about Keith’s mindfulness playbook.
Keith’s experiences writing his book and more details on it.
How Keith defines success.
Tweetables:
“My father raised me tough. He is a military guy and on top of that a preacher. I was raised with an extreme amount of discipline and that discipline has translated into all the things he has been able to do in his life.” — @K_Mitchell59 [0:08:42]
“I was so far behind the curve when it came to talent. I had the desire and the mentality for it, which is the most important aspect. But I had to develop physically if I wanted to participate.” — @K_Mitchell59 [0:12:41]
“Transformation is possible. It’s just allowing yourself to be open enough to receive information.” — @K_Mitchell59 [0:40:20]
“Typically after a big collision, you get up and celebrate. On this particular play, I’m talking to myself saying, ‘Keith, get up,’ and my body is not moving. I could feel no pain, I couldn’t move and I knew I was in trouble.” — @K_Mitchell59 [0:45:40]
“If I had a relationship with myself as an athlete, it was to push myself. Not necessarily to listen.” — @K_Mitchell59 [0:54:22]
“I’m looking at every opportunity as game-time — this is real game-time and my life is on the line — how do I want to be on the planet?” — @K_Mitchell59 [1:00:14]
“I’ve experienced life at a million miles an hour, but I’ve never sat down to reflect on it.” — @K_Mitchell59 [1:01:52]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode