What Olympic Preparation Teaches Us about School, Work, and Life
Olympic athletes possess incredible talent, and they work diligently to perform at the highest level. But much of their success comes from following three fundamental principles.
Whether competing in figure skating or downhill racing, Olympic athletes must be at their absolute best. While most of us will never achieve Olympic levels of performance, we can learn from these athletes to become better students, employees, and parents.
Olympic athletes are committed to achieving their goals. They pay attention to the finest details, from carefully monitoring their diet to striving for perfect form in their training. They make sacrifices in their social lives, and they teach themselves to enjoy the hardest parts of practice. They train six days a week, not cheating themselves of even a minute’s worth of practice but also protecting their day off to rest and recover.
Elder D. Todd ChristoffersonAs we walk in obedience to the principles and commandments of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we enjoy a continual flow of blessings promised by God in His covenant with us.
Olympic athletes develop a culture of excellence. They demand greatness not only from themselves but also from the athletes they train with. Successful athletes tend to associate with positive peers, rely on their families for support, and distance themselves from naysayers.
Kathleen H. HughesThe Lord has touched my spirit time and again, and more often than not, His touch has reached me through the hand of a friend.
Olympic athletes strive to perfect the physical aspects of their performance. But they also make time for mental and spiritual exercise. They spend quiet time visualizing every move. They also take time to ease their minds by relaxing with meditation techniques. Some pray for strength and express gratitude.
Elder Richard G. ScottA tranquil conscience invites freedom from anguish, sorrow, guilt, shame, and self-condemnation. It provides a foundation for happiness.
How can these three principles affect our own lives? In our sometimes mundane world, it helps when we remind ourselves of the greater purpose for which we are striving: our families, our self-reliance, our progression. To do this, we can write down our commitments and meditate on scriptures that motivate and inspire us. And when we stay committed to our standards, we find ourselves less prone to discouragement.
Social support can also help us. We should surround ourselves with people we love and trust. We should also try to support others; when we look outside ourselves, we gain a stronger sense of purpose.
Like Olympic athletes, we need to maintain a balance between work and spiritual matters. When we take a day off to rest and recover, we can energize our souls by focusing on the Savior. When rested and refreshed, we often find that we perform better at work, at school, or in any of our other responsibilities.