Author | Speaker | Mentor

11 Steps to an Olympic Level Life

Did you ever try to push your dream to the next level and, after achieving some success you decided to settle? Halfway through you realized it was going to be harder than you thought and it was going to take more work than you anticipated so you let go?

It’s a place we’ve all been to and because I know it so well, I have a pet name for it.

The Land of Good Enough.

We’ve all spent time there. We work hard for a season and put in our all-in-all and we start seeing some results. Then life gets in the way, the big dream dims and gets crowded out by relationships, obligations and a myriad of distractions.

Even worse, we achieve our goal and don’t maintain it. We stop being vigilant and it begins to slip away. Hey, we think, I lost the weight, what harm will one cupcake do? And the slide back to what we were begins.

I’ve set goals, lofty goals, and let life distract me so many times. I’ve settled and what’s worse, I’ve let others settle too. I’ve learned this hard truth about myself: I’m lazy. It’s in my genes. I don’t really want to grow or step out of my comfort zone. I want to stay in my little circle of safety and not put myself out there. Because it’s scary out there! I hate rejection and pain and failure as much as the next person.

But I also know that good enough never is. Not for us and not for our families.

Watching the Olympics, (obsessively) has got me thinking. How do I live an Olympic Level Life? A life that won’t settle for good enough? How do I ruthlessly rid my life of distractions and time-wasters? The unessential, the trivial and the superficial? How do I do what’s important?

I look at little Gabby Douglas and marvel how at 16 and not 100 pounds, she wowed the world in women’s gymnastics. Or Michael Phelps, how on earth did he win so many Olympic medals? Or my favorite, track star Usain Bolt. Just his name must intimidate everyone running against him!

What do they know that I don’t know? It’s simple really, they’ve learned the secret. They know exactly what it takes to lead an Olympic Level Life and they’re willing to pay the price:

  1. An Olympic Level Life ignores any and all distractions.
  2. An Olympic Level Life will do without in order to have it all.
  3. An Olympic Level Life is willing to experience pain.
  4. An Olympic Level Life practices daily.
  5. An Olympic Level Life is entirely disciplined.
  6. An Olympic Level Life wants to achieve.
  7. An Olympic Level Life has specific goals and pushes beyond them.
  8. An Olympic Level Life never gives up.
  9. An Olympic Level Life is willing to take risks.
  10. An Olympic Level Life will pay the price no matter the cost.
  11. An Olympic Level Life does it afraid.
Little Gabby Douglas, who won the women’s all around gymnastics title said this, “Hard days are where champions are made. If you can get through the hard days, you can get through anything.” Whoa. And she’s how old again?

So then, what’s your dream? What are you called to do? Go back to school? Lose 100 pounds? Write a book? Run a marathon? Homeschool your kids? Start your ministry? Raise your child to be an Olympian?

Well, let me ask you, what’s it gonna take?

  • Are you brave enough to dream?
  • Are you willing to slug through the hard days?
  • Are you strong enough to handle the pain?
  • Are you ruthless enough to finish?
  • Are you focused enough to remove distractions?
  • Are you patient enough to press on day in and day out?
  • Are you self-controlled enough to say no?
  • Do you value your gifts and calling enough to change the world?

Because you can. You absolutely have what it takes and you know what? As you resolutely take the plunge and set your face like flint to leave the land of good enough, others will see and follow your lead. Everyone around you will be affected by your determination and infected by your courage. And they will begin to follow their dreams and you, yes you, will change the world.

So, what are you waiting for?

I’d love to hear your stories. And, I commit to pray for you as you step out and step into all God is calling you to do and be. So, please share in the comments below and all of us can cheer you on as you go for the gold:)