Making Peace with Imperfection: Peaceful AF
For close to two weeks millions around the globe have been glued to their screens watching the best athletes this planet has to offer put on a spectacular display of athleticism, determination, discipline and sportsmanship. From Rugby, to Gymnastics, to Archery and Track and Field the human body and all its potential has been on full display. What stood out most of all though are the incredible stories of faith, mental health and leading from a place of purpose–lessons that we can all use in our daily lives.
During the 2020 Olympic Games, gymnastic legend Simone Biles withdrew from the competition after suffering the “twisties” causing her mind and her body to be out of sink. Instead of pushing her body and her mind to its breaking point she gracefully bowed out of the competition. It was a lesson the world needed at a time when we were being told that our production during a global health pandemic was more important than our mental health. Fast forward four years later not only is Simone Biles back she has become the most decorated female gymnast of all time. We watched as she meditated before her routines. We watched as she smiled and celebrated not only her wins but those of her competitors. She showed the world what healing looks like and that true mental toughness isn’t pushing through it’s knowing when to take a step back as well.
As I’ve watched these remarkable Olympians like Sha’Carri Richardson who the world counted out after disqualification from Tokyo make their return to the podium, tears filled my eyes for their sacrifice but more importantly their commitments to their own excellence–believing in themselves when the world tells them they're finished. You see, we are each battling so much–trying our best to make it to our own podiums of success, quieting the naysayers and our own negative records that tell us that we can’t. We win when we realize that perfection isn’t the ultimate goal–solidifying our faith in ourselves is.
The Olympics every four years teach us so much and the most important thing is to never give up–even when it seems like you’re falling short of expectations—so long as you give it everything you have–you will never lose! Making peace with imperfection is how we lift the weight and shackles of perfection and truly learn to soar.
