What We Can Learn From Olympians

By: Heather Blanchard

The Olympics will soon begin, and it’s always so exciting and uplifting to watch those amazing, resilient athletes who’ve trained nearly all their lives for a chance to compete on the world stage. Determined to be the best in the world. It’s a global event that brings people together and inspires patriotism – which is a beautiful thing.

Upon a bit of research on what makes these elite athletes true champions, I came across some common traits that Olympians share ~ ones we can all admire & adopt.

1. Olympic athletes know that winning isn’t everything, though that is most certainly their goal, but having a whatever it takes attitude is. They never stop trying or believing.
2. They embrace conflict for growth. When faced with obstacles, they make a plan to push forward and learn from the challenge.
3. Olympians are held accountable on all levels – to themselves, their coaches, their team and even their country. And that’s no easy task as it’s sometimes hard to hold ourselves accountable in our day to day lives.
4. They are learning machines! They spend endless hours practicing, watching tapes of past performances and studying their competitors. When others are ready to quit, they’re just getting warmed up. If we adopted even a fraction of this work ethic, our achievements would be limitless!
5. They are coachable – always open-minded to feedback to grow better and stronger.
6. They think BIG – they aren’t worried about little things like their next meal or to-do list. They live more in the moment and stay focused on what matters most. Like a yogi!
7. They are consistently great inside and outside of competing.Their actions are generally consistent with their vision. To be the very best, your actions and values have to be pure.

As you watch Olympians compete over the summer, remember that it’s never too late to pursue your passions. I’ll leave you here with a great quote here:

“You are never to old to set another goal or dream a new dream. Chasing a dream has no age limit.” ~ C.S. Lewis

XOXO, Heather