Every four years we get to witness the incredible athleticism displayed in the Olympics. Every time I get to watch the events I am more and more impressed in what we are seeing.
The incredible body control and precision of the gymnasts.
The freakishness of Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt and all of the other ridiculous athletes.
But there are three very distinct lessons that I’ve taken away from the Olympics this year that I wanted to share with you guys and ways that I relate them to everyday life.
Lesson # 1: Live with Passion
Every athlete has an incredible passion for competing in their sport and representing their country. You can see it in their eyes. The hurt when they lose, or the fire when they are victorious. It’s burning inside each and every one of these athletes.
Most people don’t have that type of passion in their lives and in my opinion is one of the main causes why people are so unhappy. If you have something you are passionate about you will jump out of bed every morning to go do it. Instead of hitting snooze twenty times before you roll out of bed and go to a job you hate.
And if you’re not sure what your passion is, go find it! What’s a hobby you’ve always loved to do? What do you like to read about? What interests you most? Whatever that is just make the time to do it. That passion you discover will help lead you to a happier, more fulfilling life.
It’s the only thing that can push an athlete to put in the type of work they have to in order to compete at the highest level possible.
Lesson # 2: Losses don’t make you a failure
Every athlete competing in the games has the goal of bringing home a gold medal. But the reality is some will take home the silver, the bronze or nothing at all. Does not taking home the gold make any of those athletes a failure? Hell no! Some will be pushed to work even harder for their next competition. Some will learn valuable lessons from their experience. Either way, they become a better person from it.
If you have a goal that you don’t reach, you are sure as hell not a failure. Unless you quit. But if you try your very best to drop 30 lbs. of fat but only lose 25, that’s no failure! That’s a hell of an accomplishment and you will become a better person from the lessons you’ve learned in the process. As long as you tried your very best and gave it everything you had. And that’s what these Olympians do.
Lesson # 3: Focus
To compete at the highest level possible you need an intense, laser-like focus. You have to know what you want and focus on what needs to be done in order to achieve that.
When you see Michael Phelps before a race you see the focus he possesses. It’s one of the attributes that makes him the best swimmer to ever live. If he said, “ah maybe I’ll be a gymnast, no, maybe I’ll compete in beach volleyball, I’m pretty tall.” He would never have accomplished what he has over the years.
You need to know exactly what you want and then go fucking get it.
Maybe that’s a career change, maybe that’s earning a black belt in Jui Jitsu, whatever it is you have to possess a sharp, singular focus.
In life that doesn’t mean your focus may not change over the years. To continue to use Phelps as an example, now that he’s retired he won’t be focused on winning gold medals anymore. I’m sure his focus will now be on his family and whichever direction he wants to go with his life.
But what’s important to note is that he will now apply that same type of intense focus to whatever it is he wants to do next.
And that’s what we all need to do.
If you begin applying these 3 lessons to your own life I will guarantee you that your life will improve in some way.
Unfortunately, we are surrounded by mediocre minds all day that will try and convince you to be just like them.
Ignore that toxic shit.
This is your life and you deserve to live at the highest level possible.
Now get out there and live it!