Imagine Having the Energy to Go Beyond the Daily Grind
- Mar 12
- 4 min read
Written by Madeleine Daleng Nyland, CEO
Madeleine Daleng, a five‑time Norwegian figure skating champion, now empowers people through rehabilitation, obesity coaching, and fitness training, blending elite‑sport insight with a human, down‑to‑earth approach.
No matter what your life looks like today, more energy and vitality are absolutely within reach, and faster than you think. This is the story of how I found my way into the work I do today and why I’m so passionate about helping people experience more GoodVibes, more freedom, and more belief in their own capacity to go beyond the daily grind.
From the ice rink to energy coaching
I was fortunate to grow up with a naturally high level of energy, not from diagnoses or restlessness, but from love, curiosity, and a positive outlook on life. Figure skating became my world for more than 17 years. I loved the sport deeply, even when it challenged me. It taught me resilience, discipline, joy, and the ability to find something positive in every situation.
Like most athletes, I faced setbacks. One of the toughest was getting severe frostbite during a ski trip, which kept me off the ice for months. I already sensed my skating career was nearing its end, but having that decision taken out of my hands was painful. Still, I knew I had to return, at least for one more season. And I did. That final year on the ice gave me the feeling I still chase today, freedom, flow, and pure GoodVibes.
While skating, I studied at the Norwegian School of Sports Science, building the foundation for what would become my mission, helping people feel empowered, energized, and capable, not just in training, but in life. When you’ve experienced that sense of freedom yourself, it feels almost selfish not to help others find it too.
The power of a positive baseline
I don’t believe that working out or having a positive mindset is the solution to everything. Life requires the full spectrum of emotions, such as sadness, frustration, anger, joy, excitement, and so on. But having a positive baseline makes it easier to navigate challenges.
Something as simple as a smile can shift your internal chemistry. A smile releases endorphins and serotonin, reduces stress, and signals warmth to others. It’s a tiny action with a surprisingly big impact. And because smiling is such a core part of the GoodVibe method, it deserved a place in my very first article.
Smart effort over hard effort
Energy doesn’t come from pushing yourself to the edge. It comes from choosing wisely, listening to your body, and trusting the process. Sometimes, the smartest thing you can do is slow down, adjust, and build a foundation before increasing intensity.
For some people, the goal isn’t high-performance training at all, it’s simply finding the level of movement and lifestyle that supports their life, goals, and vision. This applies far beyond fitness. It’s a principle for life.
How to build the energy to go beyond the daily grind
Energy isn’t something you either have or don’t have, it is something you can cultivate. These tools are simple, realistic, and designed for real people with real responsibilities.
Start with one small win: A 5-minute walk. A glass of water. Making your bed. Small wins build momentum, and momentum builds energy.
Smile on purpose: A deliberate smile triggers your natural mood boosters and softens your nervous system. It’s the quickest, cheapest energy shift available.
Choose smart effort, not hard effort: Your body thrives on consistency, not punishment. Build the foundation first, intensity can come later.
Create micro-moments of recovery: 30 seconds of deep breathing. A stretch between meetings. A pause before you walk into the house. These tiny resets refill your energy tank.
Move in ways that feel like freedom: Movement should give you something, such as joy, strength, clarity, and not take something away. Find what makes you feel alive.
Protect your GoodVibes: Notice what drains you and what fuels you. Set boundaries to stay in balance.
Believe you’re capable of more: This is the heart of everything. Energy grows where belief grows.
Your new normal
Energy is not a luxury reserved for a lucky few. It’s a skill, a practice, and a mindset, one that anyone can build, no matter where they start. My journey from the ice rink to coaching taught me that the feeling of freedom, empowerment, and GoodVibes isn’t something you stumble upon. It’s something you create.
You don’t need to overhaul your life. You don’t need perfection. You don’t need to push harder. You simply need to begin with one smile, one choice, one moment of movement, one belief that you deserve to feel good in your own life.
When you start choosing these small ways, something shifts. Your energy rises. Your confidence grows. Your world expands. And suddenly, going beyond the daily grind isn’t a dream. It’s your new normal.
Read more from Madeleine Daleng Nyland
Madeleine Daleng Nyland, CEO
Madeleine Daleng is a five‑time Norwegian figure skating champion who now channels her competitive drive into helping people rebuild strength, confidence, and health. With a background from the Norwegian School of Sports Science, she works across rehabilitation, obesity coaching, and fitness training. Her approach blends elite‑athlete discipline with warmth, humor, and real‑life understanding. As the founder of MAD, she supports clients through personal training, group fitness, and long‑term lifestyle change. She also inspires a wider audience through her YouTube channel, Madeleinedaleng_goodvibes.
