Learning from the Olympics

I am no elite athlete or career sportsman. I am just an architect. With the winter Olympic Games in full swing it is wonderful to see the stories of courage and commitment. Those stories are more important than the games themselves. The adversity is what drives these athletes to train and compete everyday.

This evening I watched the story of snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis and her journey to the gold medal. She is a circuit world champion and won Olympic silver, but the Olympic gold has eluded her.

She won silver at the 2006 games, then nothing in 2010, 2014, and 2018. She’s been beaten, crashed out, and injured. Yet, she still endured and continued to press forward. Yesterday, after refusing to accept past defeats, she won the gold medal in her event. Watching her on the podium take in the moment was inspiring to me. The moment wasn’t too big and she dwelled in the spotlight like a human being that has been through things and persevered. I think we can all relate to that. This was one of those victories for humanity and the spirit of the human will.

Many questions surfaced especially since many of us can relate to chasing an elusive objective. What is sweeter, winning the gold medal your first try, or coming up short for multiple years and then reaching the peak?

I believe she will be so satisfied with life having felt the extremes of thrills, victory and defeat. There is tremendous wisdom that one cannot gain solely through consistent victory.

Tom Brady, one of the greatest quarterbacks and football players of all time won super bowls, but he lost a few too. That’s what made him so great. He understands all the facets of life.

Mohammad Ali, the great fighter, was a great champion that lost some huge prizefights. He had been through so much and became wise even through his poor health.

These sporting greats: Brady, Ali, Jacobellis, Olympic gold medalist speed skater Dan Jansen (look him up) - there are so many more. These greats understand that there is victory in overcoming failure. Many would say that overcoming failure is the greatest victory one can have. That is where the lessons are concealed.

If you had crushing defeats in your life, then rose to the challenges and overcame them, I am sure you wouldn’t want to trade lives with anyone. No matter the circumstance, the determination reveals a wonderful happiness and you get to enjoy the moment everyday.

I am sure these athletes came to terms with their abilities, life, acceptance, and the definition of winning. What if you don’t get to that pinnacle? What is the pinnacle? Does it even really matter?

I’ve thought about it in my own life: what if I don’t build again? I have accepted that as a possibility but understand that building is just a part of life and I would always dream and participate in it in one form or another.

When you’ve come up short in the Olympics time and again, I imagine the ease you must be at in order to keep moving forward and finally win.

It has lead me to believe that there is a very fine line between quitting and defeatist acceptance and peaceful acceptance.

If Jacobellis were to quit, she would have never participated in another Olympics. The disappointments would have overwhelmed her spirit and she would have found another venture.

Defeatist acceptance, is similar to quitting but you still participate. The motivation required to be at the top is not there and mediocre participation is a way to avoid and defer the pain of quitting. Talented people have the ability to partake in this way. Their natural skill allows them to simply go through the motions and earn average, but acceptable, results.

Peaceful acceptance is the ability to view life in real terms. There is a neutrality that goes along with it. With peaceful acceptance you are able to dissect defeat and face it head on without touching the emotional aspects of losing that are burdensome. Peaceful acceptance is letting go and being at one with life and the universe. The meaning of participation is shifted and you can center yourself around the acceptance of any outcome. When you are at peace you understand that you are going to give everything you’ve got and that supersedes victory and defeat. That type of mindset is a direct conduit to energy and personal power.

To get there you must throw out consuming emotions and heavy thoughts. You must live with true purpose for yourself and no one else.

At peace you can accomplish anything because the result is not the defining element. The true and unrelenting effort and positive attempts is the most important factor.