Monthly Archives: November 2013

Finding answers from the ‘Don’t’ side

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don't13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do – 

Digging around the internet I’m always looking for … stuff. Stuff that holds my attention, stuff that gets me thinking, stuff that teaches me something new – or reminds me of things I’ve forgotten. It seems that the following list by compiled by Amy Morin, a psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker, originally posted in  LifeHack is the kind of stuff that appeals to me  – and apparently to many others. When I found it – it had over 185k shares and where I had found it, reposted by Cheryl Conner on Forbes’ web site , it had been viewed over 2.5million times.

Much of what we study to improve ourselves is from the perspective of what we SHOULD do… but that doesn’t always jive with how I think. Sometimes I find it easier to tell you what, or where I don’t want to eat vs what I do want to eat. Looking for an new job or career? The options can be so vast that we can’t even begin to articulate what we DO want to do – but can can be quite clear on the things that we DON’T want to do. Same with where you want to live, who you want to be with…  etc etc. There is nothing wrong with discovering your answers from the perspective of what you don’t want. In fact – coming at it from that side might reveal more options than you would have included from the perspective of what you do want.

The refreshing part of this list/article is that it’s not hesitant to articulate what mentally strong people DON’T do. And today – that’s the kind of stuff that is resonating with me.

13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do –

Mentally strong people have healthy habits. They manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in ways that set them up for success in life. Check out these things that mentally strong people don’t do so that you too can become more mentally strong.

1. They Don’t Waste Time Feeling Sorry for Themselves

Mentally strong people don’t sit around feeling sorry about their circumstances or how others have treated them. Instead, they take responsibility for their role in life and understand that life isn’t always easy or fair.

2. They Don’t Give Away Their Power

They don’t allow others to control them, and they don’t give someone else power over them. They don’t say things like, “My boss makes me feel bad,” because they understand that they are in control over their own emotions and they have a choice in how they respond. Continue reading →

Be the one who steps up – Expectation is a weapon.

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The whole point of my mentor messages is to help normalize what everyone who has ever been to an Olympics knows – the Olympics are different. We say the difference is more than just Citius, Altius, Fortius because families, sponsors, media and nations treat the Games differently, but who’s kidding who? – an athlete’s desire to go/be Faster, Higher, Stronger than anyone else is a massive part of why this year feels harder, unique, special, etc. etc to them. This month I really wanted to be sure that no one at the Olympics takes them by surprise.

When I was training for my first Games, the veteran on our team, Lesley Thompson-Willie, repeatedly told / warned us; “You have to watch out, people step-up in an Olympic year.” In an Olympic year there would always be at least one ‘dark-horse’ threat. Someone who wasn’t much to worry about in the previous year, she told us, would go home with a medal. As World Champions, she wanted to be sure that we didn’t get caught simply training for another year and then get passed by a dark horse, by those who were hungry – if not desperate – to succeed at the Olympics.

Have you ever been 4th in a really important race/competition? I was twice. My heart ached and I was consumed with a fire to do better next time. I became so hungry to win and, almost more so, desperate to not be broken hearted again.

Continue reading →