Seventeen ways to live like an athlete - How to win
Even if we don’t play sports, we are all inspired by sport. The winning athlete inspires awe and our admiration. Popular culture, society and media creates demigods of winning athletes and we all worship them. If we can worship winning athletes, then can we not learn from them. Can we not learn to live like a winning athlete? Here is the list of good things which I have observed in athletes and would like us all to make them a part of our life.
1. Practice
Athletes practice hard, practice consistently, practice daily. How often do you practice your craft?
2. Get injured
Athletes push themselves and are willing to risk injury. Are you willing to push yourself and will to risk injury to win?
3. Play to win
Athletes play to win, knowing well that winning some games will be difficult. They still play and they still play to win. Does the fear losing ensure that you don’t even step into the arena? Do you still play to win even if you see yourself losing?
4. Don’t fear losing
No athlete likes losing. However, none fears losing because they all know that you win some and lose some. Are you fearing loss?
5. Perform under pressure
Players are formed under pressure. Players perform under pressure. Do you get deformed under pressure? Can you perform under pressure?
6. They give it their all
Do you enjoy watching athletes who didn’t give their 110% percent into the game? How much are you giving into the game of your life.
7. Play in the middle of the stadium
Athletes play in the middle, open to criticism and critique. Do you have the thick skin to take criticism or the fear of criticism is enough to ensure that you run away from the stadium?
8. Play hard
Athletes consistently play with 100% intensity if not 110% intensity. How often do you play with 100% intensity?
9. Seek out better athletes
Beating weaker performers is no fun. Athletes seek out better athletes. The joy of winning against someone better is the greatest joy. Do you taken on stuff which challenges you?
10. Get coached
All athletes get coached. Do you have the humility to allow a coach to drill you and point out your mistakes?
11. Play with their team
Even those who play individual sport, play with their team of trainers, coaches etc. Who is on your team when you enter the arena of your life?
12. Are physically strong
This is a no-brainer that athletes need to be physically strong. You need to be physically strong to be able to put in the physical effort required to win in your game.
13. Are mentally strong
To handle wins and losses every other day one needs to be mentally strong.
14. Focus
Athlete focuses on their sport. Do you focus on your life? Or, are you distracted with the noise around you?
15. Enter a flow state of mind
Flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting loss in one's sense of space and time. When did you last go into a flow state of mind doing your work?
16. Perform close to their peak
Athletes train themselves to consistently deliver peak performance or near the peak performance. How consistently do you deliver peak performance?
17. Rest
Athletes deliver bursts of performances and rest in between. For the few who deliver performance, rest is a must for recovery. For most of us rest is irrelevant as we hardly exert. Most of us get tired of doing nothing and need lots us rest.
1. Practice
Athletes practice hard, practice consistently, practice daily. How often do you practice your craft?
2. Get injured
Athletes push themselves and are willing to risk injury. Are you willing to push yourself and will to risk injury to win?
3. Play to win
Athletes play to win, knowing well that winning some games will be difficult. They still play and they still play to win. Does the fear losing ensure that you don’t even step into the arena? Do you still play to win even if you see yourself losing?
4. Don’t fear losing
No athlete likes losing. However, none fears losing because they all know that you win some and lose some. Are you fearing loss?
5. Perform under pressure
Players are formed under pressure. Players perform under pressure. Do you get deformed under pressure? Can you perform under pressure?
6. They give it their all
Do you enjoy watching athletes who didn’t give their 110% percent into the game? How much are you giving into the game of your life.
7. Play in the middle of the stadium
Athletes play in the middle, open to criticism and critique. Do you have the thick skin to take criticism or the fear of criticism is enough to ensure that you run away from the stadium?
8. Play hard
Athletes consistently play with 100% intensity if not 110% intensity. How often do you play with 100% intensity?
9. Seek out better athletes
Beating weaker performers is no fun. Athletes seek out better athletes. The joy of winning against someone better is the greatest joy. Do you taken on stuff which challenges you?
10. Get coached
All athletes get coached. Do you have the humility to allow a coach to drill you and point out your mistakes?
11. Play with their team
Even those who play individual sport, play with their team of trainers, coaches etc. Who is on your team when you enter the arena of your life?
12. Are physically strong
This is a no-brainer that athletes need to be physically strong. You need to be physically strong to be able to put in the physical effort required to win in your game.
13. Are mentally strong
To handle wins and losses every other day one needs to be mentally strong.
14. Focus
Athlete focuses on their sport. Do you focus on your life? Or, are you distracted with the noise around you?
15. Enter a flow state of mind
Flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting loss in one's sense of space and time. When did you last go into a flow state of mind doing your work?
16. Perform close to their peak
Athletes train themselves to consistently deliver peak performance or near the peak performance. How consistently do you deliver peak performance?
17. Rest
Athletes deliver bursts of performances and rest in between. For the few who deliver performance, rest is a must for recovery. For most of us rest is irrelevant as we hardly exert. Most of us get tired of doing nothing and need lots us rest.
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