Olympic Commitment

As I watch the Olympics I am struck by the commitment and perseverance these athletes must have, to get them to the level of qualifying for Olympic competition. Hours of practice, coaching, setting goals and sticking to them; winning and failure; getting up and getting back “in the ring”.

What can we learn from these athletes for everyday life – for our relationships at home and our colleagues at work. How many times have you thought of giving up on a challenging friend or colleague? Or a family member who doesn’t understand you or your perspective?

Winning is not the goal in relationships. Kindness, mutuality, generosity, thoughtfulness and honesty are what matter. If you are interested in a gold medal at home or at work, some questions you might ask are – what am I committed to? being right or getting along? What am I contributing to the “the issue” that keeps me getting into snags? There are many skills involved, but the bedrock has to be commitment to wanting the relationship to work – commitment to clear communication, integrity, taking responsibility and honesty. Olympic level relationships take as much work as the runner or the gymnast. You have to know to what and who are you committed.