Here is a write up by Coach Brant – one of the latest hires to the CEP Coaching Team.

Many of my running clients used to flip flop between trigger vs choice language. For example I hear them describe their experiences as:

1. Trigger Language:
   “I didn’t sleep well last night, so I played poorly.”
   “I had a tough day at school, and it threw off my focus.”
2. Choice Language:
   “I’m choosing to execute at practice today.”
   “I’m going to push myself in the weight room.”

On the surface, these seem like opposites—triggers for negative outcomes and choices for positive actions. But here’s the truth: whether it’s a “trigger” or a “choice,” both are responses to a stimulus. What makes the difference is the narrative you attach to the situation.

How Narratives Shape Actions
Consider this:

• A “trigger” frames the experience as something external, reactive, and often out of your control.
• A “choice” frames the same experience as deliberate, empowering, and within your control.

But fundamentally, both are interpretations. The story you tell yourself about the situation shapes the direction of your actions.

For example:

• Trigger Narrative: “I’m tired, so I’ll probably perform poorly.”
• Choice Narrative: “I’m tired, but I’ll focus on controlling what I can.”

The situation hasn’t changed—but the narrative has, and so has the potential outcome.

Unifying the Narrative
What if we stopped splitting the language into “trigger” versus “choice”? What if we saw every situation as an opportunity to guide our actions, regardless of how we frame it?

Imagine this mindset:

• Everything is a trigger. The question becomes: What will I let this trigger in me?
• Everything is a choice. The question becomes: What choice will I make in response to this?

The key isn’t the label. It’s the direction you choose to go, and the actions you take that define your path.

Let me repeat that—The key isn’t the label. It’s the direction you choose to go. Meaning triggers can easily be used to trigger actions that benefit you and take you to where you want to go.

For example, one of my professional running clients uses the last 1 km marker in his race to trigger its go time and he goes all out to finish his 5 km race.

Take Ownership of Your Narrative
As an athlete, you have the power to be intentional about the story you tell yourself. Whether you call it a trigger or a choice, you can decide how to frame it in a way that fuels your growth and performance.

When you face a challenge, ask: “What direction do I want this moment to take me in?”

When you feel unmotivated, remind yourself: “How do I want to show up right now?”

Every moment is an opportunity to author your story.

So, why not make that narrative an empowering one?

Choose the story that moves you forward.

Please share this with anyone you think would be interested.

Click here to find out more about Coach Brant and the CEP Team.