For all of us the "road less traveled" is pocked with potholes and detours. There are a myriad of distractions, disappointments, and dis satisfactions along the way. Sometimes we feel like we are alone, or burned out, or even on the wrong path. We have those two inner voices always competing ("yes you can" vs. why not give up") But, staying steady and true toward your objective is a hallmark of success. (remember that my definition of success is "success is the progressive realization of a goal or dream"). A big part of staying on course is feeding yourself the "right" thoughts. Having a positive perspective is important but so is your circle of support, your sources of inspiration and your maintenance of energy inducing moments. Such moments might come when you are with a loved one who believes in you, a friend who sees your potential, a biographical book where you learn how someone else overcame obstacles to achieve their goals. Course correction and stability often comes through the gained serenity of prayer or meditation. Sometimes a quiet walk in the awe inspiring beauty of nature can help us get back on track. For others a physical work out at the gym, on a jog or a swim clears our mind and helps us focus. Being able to "compartmentalize" issues, distractions and problems (such as bills, or an injury or an argument) often helps us reduce those obstacles to their actual size and not let them become "a mountain out of a molehill. In summary, staying on course is the business of managing all the things that interfere with your progress toward your goal. As a popular book says "Don't sweat the small stuff" and most of what gets in our way is more disstraction and disruption than destruction. ( as long as we don't allow it).
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This essay discussing “staying the course” speaks volumes to me about the imperative need to focus on a task for success and the nuances there within. By doing so, we are even capable of overcoming obstacles that would otherwise impede our success.
While recently watching one of the numerous dance shows now popularized on TV, the power of focus was confirmed before me. In the finals of “Dancing with the Stars”, Gilles Marini, the suavely handsome French hottie (I use that word a lot….) was in head to head competition with Shawn Johnson, gymnastic Olympic medalist, for the top prize. On first glance, Gilles was the obvious favorite with his dashing, dark good looks and lean, languid dancer’s body. In comparison, Shawn lacked the dancer’s body and rather, had an over-trained chunky gymnast look, so prevalent among American athletes. Body against body Gilles looked like the pre-ordained winner.
What was extraordinary about this head to head dance competition was that Shawn won, I believe, by using her head. In retrospect it didn’t seem so unlikely that she walked off with the top prize and beat out a competitor who had a superior “line” and look to hers. Knowing a little as I do about gymnastic competition, I realized that Shawn had been superbly trained in her formative years to be able to focus intensely on the task or goal at hand. At each stage of the competition, she became stronger by building on the past week’s success. What was critical, though, to her ultimate success was that she knew instinctively when to peak as she had been trained to do so many times. She peaked in her performance at the required moment, powering herself to take the gold!
While Shawn was, I believe, less gifted in her artistry as a dancer, she exhibited a tremendous mental toughness that saw her through to victory. This is a thought that sustains me frequently in hip-hop class as I resolve to not underestimate my abilities any more.
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