06.02.10
The Winning Edge
Think winning is all about being fierce, mean, overpowering, and ruthless?
Think again!
One of the students at my school just won the state javelin competition. That’s an astounding accomplishment in itself. But what was more intruguing is what he said about winning.
He didn’t expect to win. He only hoped for 8th or 9th place. He thought the current record holder would win anyway, so he just planned on having a good time and doing his best.
In such a relaxed mind-milieu he did his best. And set a new state record for the event!
This strategy completely flouts the positive-thinking, “I’m the best” advice we’ve been taught to embrace. Sure, that kind of thinking can boost your self-esteem. Until someone comes along who is better than you, faster, brighter, taller, prettier, or wealthier, or, etc. You get the idea.
It’s a very tenuous existence. Because we stop being OUR best, and we start being THEIR best.
And then we can’t get into the mind-set of the javelin champ.
What if we’d go into every situation aiming for 8th or 9th place.
The pressure’s off.
We can relax, maybe even have fun.
And maybe even win~
