Olympic athletes tap the inner fire — how about you?
Aug 14th, 2008 by spaceagesage
Awaken and sing o’ body mine of suppleness and strength,
And send the tune humming โround each waiting muscle’s length.
At their finest and purest, Olympic athletes gain our admiration for their determination, excellence, and resiliency. They know what it means to go above and beyond, to push the limits of body and mind, and to live on the edge of injury or a costly mistake. They lay it all on the line. They leave everything they have on the court, in the gym, or on the field. They make us proud to be a part of humanity.
What does it take to reach so high?
- It’s in their heart.
The training, the competition, or the sheer act of perfecting a physical skill fires every fiber of their being with motivational energy.
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- A moment in the past or a dream of the future compels them.
Wanting to honor the memory of a parent, needing to prove themselves, or looking to a vision of fame and fortune can power a person forward.
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- Love of movement inspires them.
The kinesthetics of their sport, especially when you can frequently find “flow” or “peak performance” or “the zone” is intoxicating and addicting as the body and mind become one.
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- It provides a sense of “This is where I belong.”
Some people feel great working with numbers; some are born to teach in a classroom; others can’t wait to get up and start writing. Athletes often find the workout area, competition, or the process of training as a place and space where they are comfortable, accepted, and strong.
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- They are surrounding by like-minded people.
Whether it is team members, coaches, or the competition, athletes know these people understand the value of what they do, they empathize with the good and bad days, and they share a sense of exclusivity no one else can really understand.– – – –
How can we make these five points work for us?
- We can fall in love with something — painting, blogging, a sport, being a mom — and do it for the joy it brings.
- We can find our strongest motivators, hold onto them tightly, and let them guide us through the tough times.
- We can take the chains off of our talents and abilities, and flow with the creativity yearning to be free within ourselves.
- Simply seeking comfort won’t help us excel, but seeking a place where we feel safe to be ourselves and where we feel good about letting our creativity blossom – that’s worth looking for!
- We can find friends who understand and appreciate us. We can join groups where people are like-minded enough to help encourage us.
How do you keep yourself fired up and moving toward your goal? What motivates and inspires you?
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Photo credit: Tim Hipps
Hi SpaceAgeSage,
When I discovered blogging 17 months ago, I found a new passion. For months I wrote to an imaginary audience. Slowly new friends arrived and ignited that passion for writing and helping others even further. Today my blog brings me more joy than I can even describe. I am surrounded by like minded people who understand this thing called blogging and how it can consume us. It’s a good thing, as Martha (Stewart) would say. ๐
Hi, Barbara –
Wow! Only 17 months? You have made quite a positive impact already. Glad your passion has fired you up — we all benefit, too!
Wonderful points!
The one that touches me the most is #3 – take the chains off our abilities and talents. This has held me back for a long time. In fact, I think it still holds me back, although I’m getting better at taking them off. It can be scary sometimes. But, you know what, I’m finding that it’s usually all good. And if it’s not, I move on. It’s better to have tried and failed, than to have never tried at all. Hmm…I think that’s a quote – but I can’t remember who said it. But he/she was very smart!
Hi, Lance —
It is scary to let our full abilities and talents loose. Our inner power is just that — power. I find I still have fear of success just about as much as I have fear of failure, and I have to watch out for any self-sabotage that tries to crop up.
I really hope that my comment doesn’t sound like a cheat but um…all the points that you mentioned keep me balanced and motivated!
I identify any conflicts that keep me from achieving my goals, and I find ways to deal with those conflicts. Then, ultimately, I try and surround myself with like-minded people because they have a way of motivating you even more and giving you positive reinforcement when/where it’s needed! ๐
Hi, Ribeezie,
I wondered where all that energy and all those people skills come from!