If you are like my family I am sure that you have been watching at least some of the 2008 Summer Olympics. I love the Olympics because the athletes must stay focused and overcome all adversity. Their mind has to stay focused on the prize- The Gold Medal. If the athletes show up in Beijing and do not keep their mind focused on the Gold Medal, then they will have already lost the prestigious prize in their mind, therefore no gold will be hung around their necks. The Olympic motto is made up of three Latin words: “Citius, Altius, Fortius”, which means “Faster, Higher, Stronger”. These three words encourage the athlete to give his or her best during competition.
One of my favorite parts of watching the Olympics is hearing the stories of the athletes and what they have gone through each day, year after year to prepare themselves for this moment in time. Dara Torres became the oldest Olympic swimming medalist during these Olympics in Beijing. She is proof and inspiration that your body can be rock-hard at 41; a baby doesn’t have to slow you down or mean you cannot aspire to your dream; and when it comes to any goal, it’s all about how bad you want it! She was the first athlete to pose alongside models in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, but she is more famous for her comebacks. After she won four medals in three Olympic games, she retired from competitive swimming in 1992 because she thought (and probably the sports world too) that she was too old at the age of 25! In 1999 she resumed training, went to Sydney Games and took home 3 Bronze Medals and 2 Gold Medals! She is the first U.S. swimmer to compete at five Olympic Games and the oldest woman ever to make the U.S. Olympic swim team. She has become a testament of dedication, passion and willpower. You go girl! Dara is a mom, she has battled bulimia, been divorced twice, and recovered from five knee surgeries, however she is right there in Beijing with her eye on the prize once more! That is what I love about the Olympics!! Endurance, perseverance, dedication, and a never give up attitude!
That is what we have to do! We may not be training for an Olympic game, however most of us do overcome amazing odds and adversity to walk on in this thing we call life. No matter what we are facing or what our dream is- we can achieve it no matter the circumstances, no matter our age, no matter what! We have to set our eye on the prize!
All athletes must work on the mental part of their game just like they do the physical part. I often thought as I watched the US Gymnastic Team competing, as they would close their eyes while awaiting their turn. I bet they were seeing in their minds eye exactly what they wanted the outcome to be. You must see it first in your mind and believe it will happen, and then it will become a reality. This is the power of the subconscious mind. Jack Canfield states that one of the most important 45 minutes of your day happens just before you go to sleep. I too have taught this principle for years and it is very successful. According to Canfield, set aside time at the end of your day to do these four things:
1.) Acknowledge Your Success - give yourself credit for what you have accomplished in your day. Focus on what you did RIGHT!
2.) Review Your Goals - What did you get accomplished? What goals need to move forward to the next day? Where could you have been more effective?
3.) Focus on your successful future - focus on what you DO want, not what you don’t want. Keep a clear vision of your future.
4.) Make specific plans for what you want to accomplish the next day - WRITE IT DOWN!
During the night your subconscious mind replays and processes your late night input up to six times more often than anything else you experienced during the day. If you are falling asleep watching the late news, those are the images you will replay during your sleep! Instead read your goals, read some positive material, close your eyes and visualize your goals for the next day.
You may not be in Beijing but you are amazing, and you can and have, overcome adversity and you have taken the Gold!
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