Having a purpose and understanding why we do what we do is an incredible way to build satisfaction into our lives. It can help get you through challenging times in school, sport and life.
Finding your Why
Beyond some of the initial reasons that come to mind, continue to ask yourself why andsearch for more, deeper reasons! Many Olympians take part in their sport of course tosee how fast they can get, how high they can jump or how far they can go; but beyondthat, many athletes also take great pride in being a good teammate and helping others reach their potential - ultimately providing them with a sense of purpose.
Have a long term overarching goal, but make sure your daily focus is on process goals and small manageable steps you can take.
In a time like now, where big dreams and outcomes are especially challenging to see because of all the uncertainty around us, it can be helpful to focus on small daily process goals.
Building a purpose driven mindset instead of (or in addition to) an outcome driven mindset will help you when you face obstacles in your journey.
Reaching small goals each day at a practice, or completing a presentation or test at school, can provide you with a sense of accomplishment for the day.
- Sometimes each day all we need is a feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment.
During a time like this pandemic, where we don’t get to measure ourselves at big competitions like we might be accustomed to, it’s important to find purpose in what we do each day and keep it front of mind.
- That way, on the days when we don’t feel like getting out of bed, we can remind ourselves of why we do what we do and push through the small challenge in order to feel fulfilled again!
Once we begin ticking off small accomplishments, our motivation can grow from there. Sometimes just getting started is the hardest part!
Head to Head promotes mental resilience and physical wellness through Olympian led Youth Mentorship programs and swim clinics. Head to Head swim clinics are led by active and retired Olympic swimmers and each clinic is designed for youth between the ages of 10 and 17 yrs, from all levels of swimming (early competitive to national level). For more information visit www.headtohead.ca/clinics or contact hello@headtohead.ca.