My daughter and I attended a gymnastics meet at the local university. We were mesmerized as the athletes leaped over the vault, spun around the uneven bars, and soared through the air during their floor exercises.
The coach gave each gymnast a pep talk before their routine. I imagine that he reminded them to focus, breathe deep, and remember their training. They ended with a fist bump and a “You’ve got this.”
As I watched one of the athletes get ready for her event I noticed that her hands were shaking. She looked nervous and unsure of herself but she charged ahead when her time came to compete.
That’s when it hit me.
The gymnasts practice facing their fears and have learned to compete, in spite of feeling afraid.
They don’t let fear stop them from doing what they were made to do. They put in the time day after day to improve their skills but there is a still a strong element of risk, uncertainty, and fear as they approach each apparatus during a meet.
Even if they are confident in their abilities, they realize that something could go wrong, they could come up short, or their body might let them down. But they forge ahead anyway. They are committed to their goal. They are focused on what is before them and they are driven to do their best.
How many times do I avoid something because I over-analyze the risk factors or focus on my fears?
Read what else I learned from the gymnasts over on Kelly Balarie’s Purposeful Faith blog…
*Don’t forget to join me tomorrow on Facebook Live, 12:30 EST, on my author/speaker page for an interview with author, Teri Lynne Underwood, about her new book, Praying for Girls.
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You might also like:
Grounded: Insane Courage and Embarrassing Bravery
Brave Your Fears and Help Your Child Succeed
Dear Mom: Some Thoughts on Expectations and Victories
*Today’s post was adapted from my guest post on the Purposeful and Meaningful blog.