Go for gold in the game of life
There’s something remarkable about elite athletes. Their physical strength and prowess is obviously impressive. They play at the top of their game and know what it takes to win. But what makes sporting greats truly exceptional is their mind. They have an unrelenting quest for greatness, a sense of mental fortitude that helps to power their performance.
They show up in the moments when life feels bleak. They train early in the morning and late at night, in all kinds of weather, and when nursing injuries or in the throes of illness. Endowed with tenacity and grit, professional sports stars are nothing if not committed.
The fanfare surrounding the Australian Open — and indeed the upcoming winter Olympics — has shown us just that. But the indefatigable focus is not just held in the mind of the pros, for amateurs know it, too. In the words of US amateur wrestler and coach, Dan Gable: “Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.”
You don’t need to be an elite athlete to think and live like one. We might not be rolling in dough like some of the professionals, many of whom started with very little, mind you, but we can certainly adopt some of their winning strategies. Inspiration isn’t always present and often faced with change, we meet a whole heap of resistance.
In fitness, resistance training builds muscle mass to create strength and the same theory can be applied to mental fitness. You have to work against a little bit of force, some pressure or weight, a deadline or uncomfortable task, to create new habits and develop inner strength.
When we use resistance in our favour, it can springboard us into action, and that’s important. Because unless you turn up for yourself, in your own life, and take action steps within your capacity, you may feel haunted by the ghosts of your unrealised dreams and potential.
You have to create the right conditions for success. Athletes curate their lives, take personal responsibility and make their mission. Tailored health, lifestyle, training and fitness programs help to feed their performance. Sporting professionals also play the long game, while remaining focused on the task at hand.
According to the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, who was far from athletic but is considered to be one of the most mindful and mentally fit figures in history, “endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes.”
There will always be bumps along the way, hiccups and obstacles. Keep a clear mind, and focus on the end results — let your winning vision be your anchor. For you can, will and likely already have overcome many challenges.
Finally, we only rise strong with the backing of others. It’s critical to surround yourself with the right people, those who get you, believe in you, and will show up and fight for you, too. Having the right people on our side helps you build confidence and reinforces your willpower.
Sporting champs arm themselves with a stack of support. They pick their work environments and teams wisely. They work with coaches and psychologists, experts in the mind, performance, health, nutrition and sleep. They remain coachable, seek advice and always focus on bettering their game, to become masters of themselves, and of their craft.
You can do it, too. There is one game that we’re all a part of — this life. What you strive for, and how you play it is entirely up to you. Why not go for gold?
This article was first published in The West Australian in Renée Gardiner’s weekly column in Agenda, 22 January 2022.