The Summer Olympics are here, and every little girl dreaming of being a gymnast watches athletes flip through the air and land on the balance beam and floor mats with perfection. The rest of us root for athletes in swimming, track, basketball, or other favorite events.
We join millions worldwide to watch these events far away in our homes. Although we may be a great physical distance from the sports competitions, we share a very close goal of being our best. We can take this time to commit to obtaining the best version of ourselves in our daily lives, just like the athletes pledge to be their best. While this should always be our eventual goal, events, holidays, and special occasions are excellent reminders to work toward this.
The athletes have made sacrifices to train and have proven themselves by outperforming their competitors. I can only imagine what they think and feel as they participate in the activities, the pressure they feel seconds before competing, and the emotions they experience if they are fortunate enough to stand on the medal podium. The sense of accomplishment and happiness for improvement can be witnessed on our televisions, but they can be experienced in our own unique way. We can have our own Olympic mindset every day.
Being our best can take different forms. It does not have to match obtaining a gold medal. It just has to be your path to excellence. A small attempt here, a significant forward step there, and a continued journey of improvement are the ways to a gold medal life.
Here are some ways you can work at being your Olympic best every day:
Obtaining your best health
Quit bad habits.
Exercise with the guidance of your doctor.
Reduce stress.
Bettering your skills for a hobby or sport
You do not have to be the best in the world. You have to be your personal best.
Organizing your household to run smoothly
Keep your house clean.
Demonstrate good manners toward all household members.
Spend quality time with family members at dinner.
Set up a routine for washing clothes or cooking meals.
Being a great spouse or parent
How can you be more supportive?
How can you take the burden off your spouse right now?
Think about how you can better handle a situation with your child.
Do something to make your spouse feel appreciated.
Being your best for family and friends
Spend quality time with others.
Be in the moment and listen when others speak.
Make quality time a priority or rearrange your schedule to be more available.
Providing unforgettable memories
Plan a vacation that is meaningful for someone.
Create small moments of fun or joy that enrich the lives of others.
Improving your neighborhood
Is there a neighbor who needs help during a difficult time? Can you take their trash can to the curb or cut their grass for a few weeks?
Help out with the neighborhood watch program.
Being a good citizen
Represent your city, state, and country well.
Leading a life that serves as an example to others
Model serving others, offering chances to succeed, or displaying graciousness.
Volunteering
Present the best of yourself by volunteering for a good cause.
As you witness the best athletes in the world achieving their personal best, you can realize they mirror what we do in our lives. We have the same passion to realize our full potential. We want to represent our family, city, state, and country to the best of our abilities. We yearn to inspire others. We hope others who observe us admire how we conduct ourselves.
How do we continue to move in this direction? We do what the athletes do. We take that first gymnastic lesson. We get some coaching. We discover what we are passionate about and what we want to pursue further. We carve out time to work on our goals. We are determined. We practice with others who have the same goals. We make sacrifices.
Not only are we reminded during the games that we can work at being the best portrayal of ourselves, but we can also pass the torch to others and encourage them to be their best. As we influence others, we grow even more ourselves.
Go ahead, grab some snacks, and watch the games. Find joy in athletes shattering records, your renewed enthusiasm to be your best, and knowing you will help others be their best. This is a unique time for the world to unite to compete respectfully, for countries to be their best, and for individuals to be motivated. The games bring opportunities that do not have to wait every four years. Every day, we can see bettering ourselves less like work and more like something we get to do, but that is just my view.
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