I'm not sure about you, but I've been glued to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics over the last two weeks, despite the time difference.
The Olympics to me is the pinnacle of not just incredible athleticism, but also dedication and mental strength.
It got me thinking: what can we learn from these world class athletes?
Here were my top 3 takeaways:
Discipline drives you towards your goals
Diversity and representation matters
Cultivate grit & perseverance, especially in the face of failure and setbacks
1. Discipline drives you towards your goals
One thing I've spent a lot of time doing over the last year is cultivating self compassion, learning how to be kind to myself. Now I realise to level up, I need to figure out how to balance being kind to myself and when to lean into discipline instead. While you want to be kind to yourself, sometimes that actually means pushing yourself. So getting up and exercising, rather than sitting on the couch mindlessly scrolling on Instagram comes to mind! The discipline Olympic athletes show to their sports is awe inspiring.
2. Diversity and representation matters
My current role is the first in my corporate career to educate me that diversity and representation matters. And now I see that need everywhere. For me, the Olympics captured that sentiment this year in a way I had never noticed before, by adding new sports like BMX, climbing, surfing etc, and having way more expansive TV coverage of less mainstream sports like weightlifting, modern pentathlon etc. Athletes come in all shapes and sizes, and for me the Olympics showcased that this year. I was looking at the Olympic weightlifting coverage wishing I had seen that as a kid growing up, as who knows, maybe I could have been an Olympian. There is something very powerful in seeing someone who looks like you represented on the world's biggest stages.
3. Cultivate grit & perseverance, especially in the face of failure and setbacks
There were so many amazing stories of Olympic athletes who have faced such adversity to be at the Games. The gold medalling winning Italian high jumper who if the Olympics had happened in 2020, would have missed it due to a broken foot. Simone Biles who battled a case of the "twisties" to be able to compete and win 2 medals. To the Irish hero Kellie Harrington, who only qualified for the Olympics 6 weeks before they started. It seems superhuman to have that degree of grit and perseverance, to be that singularity focused on a goal. Challenges are often where we grow the most, and Olympic athletes personify that lesson.
I'd love to know, what did you learn from the Olympics this year?
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