Wow! What a game!
If you’ve been watching the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics on TV for the past two weeks, you should be thrilled by the players’ display of talent, skills, and sportsmanship. Also, you should be inspired by many awesome Canadian Athletes, especially those who have bounced back from defeat.
I’m proud of all the athletes of this great nation. They came prepared, ready to face the rigors and pressures of the competition. But in my book, two Canadian sports personalities stand out because they epitomize the essence of the games. They are Charles Hamelin, a short track speed skater, and the Canadian Hockey Team.
Both personalities lost in their earlier games. Charles had lost to the Koreans and Americans in the 1000 m and 1500 m events, while the Hockey Team lost to the USA Team in the preliminary rounds. And yet after a grueling battle to the top, after initially failing to win, they relentlessly fought hard, gracefully bounced back, and won gold medals for their beloved country.
In fact, the Hockey Team’s “thriller” win against a formidable US contingent mesmerized and inspired the whole nation.
Truly amazing feat!
When you’re in the same circumstance as them, how can you bounce back and claim the win that you’ve been dreaming all these years? How can you achieve what you deserve? How can you be victorious in defeat?
Rest and reflect
After a loss in life, it’s easy to just give up and take the less painful route. But if you still want to win, have a good rest, stay away from the situation for a while, and regain your composure. It’s essential to control your emotions when you’re down-and-out. You can’t let fear and doubt rule your life.
Assess the status
Reflect on what went wrong, on what mistakes you’d made that led to the loss. Analyze every step — from the start to the end. Consider what worked and what didn’t work. Accept your shortcomings. Think about how others have contributed to your confusion. Have you asked for help? If so, have you asked the right people with some expertise?
Adjust your game plan
After learning the missteps and mistakes, come up with a plan. Seek solutions to your problems. Create new strategies not just to assure a win but also to correct previous errors. Think about the best approach that can help you achieve success. Get professional help if necessary. Asking for help is not a sign of cowardice but rather a show of strength.
Believe in yourself
Believe that you’re still a winner despite all the losses and defeats. Believe in your abilities. If you don’t believe in yourself, nobody will. Accept that failure is just temporary, that it’s an important element of winning. Be determined to overcome any roadblocks. A few minutes before the 500 m final game, Charles Hamelin declared that he’d get the Gold and he got it!
Put your new strategies and plan into action
Execute your new strategies and improvised plan. Be swift in fulfilling your responses to the challenges. Any delay is costly. Perform with full vigor and enthusiasm. Never doubt yourself and your new game plan. Focus on attaining your goals. Never allow distractions to cloud your sense of judgment.
Celebrate the result
When you have a plan and you carry out your strategies with passion, the chance of winning the game of life is high. Always celebrate your wins — small or big. But when you fail again, still celebrate the opportunity given to you so you can get better. As you know, defeats are rare opportunities in disguise; they are free life lessons to help achieve your heart’s desires.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.” Charles Hamelin and the Canadian Hockey Team have reached their greatest glory in the 2010 Olympics because they rose to the occasion . . . And inspired millions of people around the globe.
Now, it’s your turn to deliver victory in your losses and defeats.