“You have to work hard in the dark, so you can shine in the light.” – Kobe Bryant
It’s championship weekend for a number of sports. Whether you are excited to take in the college basketball national championship, the Wrestlemania event, or the latest F1 race, there are a variety of competitors putting it on the line at the highest level.
We are drawn to the events and sit on the edge of our chairs as we watch the athletes put it all on the line in the hopes of standing atop the podium. It’s the culmination of years of hard work, effort, and proving their skill time and time again. What is it about these type of events that inspire us? There were over 14 million viewers of the final four matchup of UCONN and Iowa on Friday night.
We love watching people achieve things and do things that seem impossible. In the face of high stress, can they execute what they have practiced for countless hours. What can we learn from these events and these athletes that we can apply to our lives?
For one, they are passionate about the process of getting better. They know that the outcome is meaningful, but the only way they can stand on top is to commit themselves to the process daily. They know it’s the small daily tasks that lead to the bigger outcomes. We can see that doing the monotonous daily actions allow us to experience the thrill of showcasing our hard work. Whether that’s going on a vacation, traveling to hike, run a local race, or take on a competition it’s the daily work of moving, eating, sleeping, and recovering that allow us to fully embrace those opportunities.
Not everyday is meant to be a Personal Record. Not everyday is meant to be a highlight reel moment. Many times it’s the small decision to eat a certain option, or find a way to move, or get a little extra sleep, that will pay dividends down the road.
While we see the athletes at the highest level putting on display the hard work done in the dark, let’s all take a moment and see how we can continue to do the small things that no one notices that will help us to hit the health and fitness goals we seek.
