17/08/2026
Another Cornermen poem.
We have a Cornermen WhatsApp group and This was put by on by one of the men, it’s about sparring. But as others have pointed out in the group, it can be applied to many circumstances in life…
"The Battle Is Your Thoughts"
The hardest fight starts before you arrive,
When your mind says, “I’ll just Stay home tonight.”
It throws the doubts, it feeds the fear,
Your mind plays tricks and gives a reason not to appear.
“I’ll get hurt. I won’t be good enough.
I will struggle. I will fail. This will all be too much.”
But your mind can talk, and your mind can lie and make you want to hide,
Sometimes the biggest opponent is the voice we fight inside.
Then, you walk through the door.
And suddenly, things are not what you thought.
No pressure to prove. No judgement. No force.
Just one step forward, then another step if you wish of course.
We will work with your ability,
Not against it.
Your pace. Your limits.
Your progress. Your fight.
Every punch is a little more self belief.
Every round is a little less to doubt.
You came here when your mind said don’t,
And that is what this group is about.
This isn’t about being the strongest in the room.
It’s about becoming stronger than you were before.
Building confidence, finding your feet,
And proving to yourself you can, by walking through the door.
Because the battle was never the boxing.
The battle was getting through the door.
And once you do, you might just discover
You are capable of so much more.
So when those negative thoughts tell you “You can’t,”
Step forward and Give yourself a chance.
As facing your fears is exactly what’s this is about,
I am there to support you, so just give me a knowing glance…..
“You are more capable than your negative thoughts”
