Coaches are fond of giving pep talks to their teams . Here are some words of experience and hard-won wisdom from some of life’s peak performers that we can all use as motivators:
Diana Nyad on her epic swim from Cuba to Florida at age 64 after 4 failed attempts:
“It’s the fifth time I stand on this shore, the Cuban shore… believing again that I’m going to make it all the way across that vast, dangerous wilderness of an ocean… this year, the mantra is — and I’ve been using it as I train — find a way.
“You have a dream and you have obstacles in front of you… None of us ever get through this life without heartache, without turmoil, and if you believe and you have faith and you can get knocked down and get back up again and you believe in perseverance as a great human quality, you find your way.” https://www.ted.com/speakers/diana_nyad
Desiree Linden, Boston Marathon Winner, on how she keeps going when it’s tough:
“…I decided to stop thinking about each day so much, and just keep showing up… whatever the day gave me, just show up. That’s kind of how I attacked the race, too. Once I got over the fact that I wasn’t going to drop out, it was like, “Just show up for one more mile. Show up for one more minute…. Some days it just flows and I feel like I’m born to do this, other days it feels like I’m trudging through hell. Every day I make the choice to show up and see what I’ve got, and to try and be better. My advice: keep showing up.”
Michael Jordan, basketball legend, on how he handles fear when it tries to stop him:
“I know fear is an obstacle for some people, but to me it’s an illusion. Any fear is an illusion. You think something is standing in your way, but nothing is there – only an opportunity to do your best and gain some success.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jordan.
Henry David Thoreau, author and philosopher, reminds us of the power of dreams:
“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”
Yes! Enlivened and energized, let’s tackle our work with joy and verve. Write on!
