Home > Articles > Motivation > Five Steps To Be Inspired!
Five Steps To Be Inspired!
Hi folks, having gone through a box of tissues this weekend, sore throat, hoarse voice I wanted to share my thoughts on being inspired.
So why the tissues? Lots of tears of joy, of unashamed emotion at peoples’ abilities, achievements, and the incredible challenges that they overcome.
Sore throat and hoarse voice because I have spent the weekend shouting and cheering at the television as I watched and joined in with the spirit of the occasion coming directly into my living room. So what was happening? The Paralympics.
Those athletes are phenomenal, their abilities and determination inspiring, their personalities and sense of commitment to themselves, the people around them and their teams awesome. Please join me in heartfelt congratulations to every athlete at Athens.
Be inspired
1. Be focused
Every one of the paralympic athletes interviewed was exceptionally focused on their goal. For the majority having achieved one goal, that of being at the Olympics in Athens, the next was to get a personal best and if a medal was there as well, great.
So, keep your focus on what is right for you, break it down into steps and do them, one by one.
2. Be determined
Stephen Payton, Bronze medal winner, said that his preparation was not ideal for Athens as due to injuries he did not start specific training until May 2004, and he still got Bronze.
There will be times when you need to grit your teeth and ‘just do it’, even if you don’t feel as prepared as you could be. Be clear as to what it means to you and stay determined to give it your best. This is not about being perfect, it is about being single minded in the activities that are right for you to achieve your focus and goal.
3. Move on
Learn to deal with disappointment. Life does not always go as planned. There was the runner who got a spasm in his leg and needed to pull out of the race, the cyclist who got a puncture - 4 years of training scuppered by a puncture and he still completed the event, finishing 7 minutes after the winner.
Mark Brown, marathon runner, dropped to competing in the 5000-metre running track competition because his category for the marathon was not at Athens. This meant that Mark had to train differently in order to adjust from a marathon to the 5,000 metres race.
It is to be his last paralympics competition. Prior to the race he was focused on getting a personal best and if a medal was included, all the better. He knew the competition and he gave it his all. Just as he said he would – sheer determination and focus to get over the winning line. He did not get a medal, he did get a personal best and yes, he gave it his all.
His reaction? Pleased that he had competed, saying ‘no excuses, I was not good enough today for a medal’. He then sang the praises of the sport, encouraging people of all ages to take up athletics, saying ‘forget football, the track is where it is at’.
Do not be stopped by disappointment. Acknowledge that you are disappointed, own the reason for the disappointment and then decide how long you will give yourself to feel the disappointment. Don’t wallow. Then, pick yourself up and decide on the next step to get you moving on. Learn from it and be true to you.
4. Be genuine
Everyone of those athletes glowed with the pleasure of what they were doing and are doing. They will not be getting multi-million deals for promoting items. They are going back to work, to balance their training with life and work with their coaches, families and friends for their next adventures.
So do not hide your ability under a bushel of non-sense ideas and beliefs. Come out and know within your heart, in your vision and every waking moment that what you are doing or moving towards and achieving is right for you. Do it because you love it, because you want to and it meets your values. That, in my book, is being genuine.
5. Be proud
Yes, I said it, BE PROUD. When the athletes were praised for their successes, their competing regardless of where they came in the event. They visibly glowed, smiled and looked great. And they deserved to look this fantastic and proud.
Look at your achievements; tell yourself how well you are doing. It is ok to say Well Done! to yourself at each step of the way. Accept compliments and grow with the experience.
When Tanni Grey-Thompson, 11 times gold medallist in the track events, stated that she appreciated the other competitors and what they were capable of, she was not alone with this accolade. She knew what she needed to do, as they all did, and she was visibly proud of her achievements and those of her paralympic team mates and fellow competitors.
So get out there and shine. Heartfelt pride in your achievements is very attractive, enticing and appealing. And shows a genuineness to yourself and others.
Let me leave you with this thought,
‘The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your potential, these are the keys to unlock the door to personal excellence’ (Eddie Robinson)
I have mentioned only a few of the athletes above and there are so many. Please join me once again in saying to each and everyone of them, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PARALYMPIC TEAMS - an inspirational group of people.
