Achieving Olympic Results: Your Life-Check Checklist
The world feels just a little bit smaller during the Olympic games - doesn't it? To watch the greatest athletes in the world compete on the stage that they dedicated their lives to perform on is nothing less than breathtaking. From the scenes of mistakes, heartbreaks and failures to witnessing the moments of utter euphoria - we are entertained by the spectrum of human emotion that may stand as a reminder that we have dreams too. And we watch in amazement: how do they do it?
A great coaching professor of mine, Rod Napier, PhD, shared a list of areas in our lives where we should strive to strike a balance. He claimed the balance had been studied within top-performing Olympic athletes, providing them the contentment and confidence in order to achieve monumental results. This can apply to us all. Consider where you are in your own life - might one of the areas listed below need more attention? Can you recall a time in your life where one area might have been lacking and your work performance was impacted as a result? Here's the list:
- HEALTH: how is your diet? Are you nourishing your body? How is your sleep? Are you getting adequate exercise?
- EMOTIONS: how are you feeling? What are your relationships like - both professional and personal? How is your home-life?
- INTELLECT: are you being intellectually challenged? Are you solving problems? Are you curious?
- SPIRITUAL: do you believe in something larger than yourself?
I like to reflect on Kris Jenkins, the Villanova basketball player who scored the winning 3-pointer to clinch the NCAA title for his University this year. In the final second of the tied-up match Kris threw a perfectly executed basket that shocked everyone watching. When asked after the game what was going through his mind in that moment, he answered, “Shut it down.”
What I trust occurs when you strike the right balance across the areas listed above is that you're able to not only think and act more clearly, but you're also able to let go. Letting go allows us to operate more fluidly in order to achieve great things.
It's so sad when the Olympics come to an end! It serves as a separate consideration for us all -- we can't always be on. We need time to heal, relax, practice and to strike that right life balance. I hope you take a breath after reading this - or go eat an apple. Do something good for you.
