Winning Redefined

By virtue of my eldest daughter’s love of sports, specifically basketball, I became a sports mom during her elementary and high school years. I never knew the magnitude of the life lessons that could be taught having a child involved in sports with a natural competitive drive, desire to win, and excel to the very top in all she does. I quickly learned that my role in this area of her life was to keep her grounded.

She was passionate about this sport, competing, performing at her ultimate best, and winning. As a parent, my job is to support her in being successful at whatever she does while teaching her that a “win” is not always the prize. Some of the greatest lessons are learned not by the wins we have in life but by how we recover from a loss. Recovery requires us to learn how to work through and manage our emotions, so they don’t hinder us from getting back up, getting back in the game, and trying again. This, my friends, is a valuable lesson to learn and is applicable in every area of our lives.

In life, there will be many perceived and actual losses. How we handle these experiences matters, for there is a wealth of knowledge and growth to be gained. However, if we attach our self-worth to “winning,” it will hinder our ability and willingness to learn what we can, take risks, and relaunch after a setback. Athletes spend many hours reviewing video after losing a game to get better, why, because there is eventually a next game. Some of our greatest battles are fought in the mind; our internal messaging is key to moving forward. Challenge any thought that questions your worth and ends with you believing you are not enough. I’ve heard the quote many times, and the sentiment is powerful, “I never lose, I either win, or I learn.” Keep getting up and take another shot.

~Be well