Five Ways To Have a Gold Medal Lifestyle

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich

"Excellence is the gradual result of always trying to do better." ~ Pat Riley

The Summer Olympics will be starting soon and I for one will be watching with great excitement. I just watched the new Netflix documentary about Simone Biles entitled Rising. I highly recommend it. I am so proud of the progress she has made in her mental health journey. She has stepped back from the spotlight to focus on her healing and I can’t wait to see her in action at this year’s Olympics.

I feel she is in such a better place in all aspects and it is wonderful to see her have another chance at Olympic gold, since having to step aside at the Tokyo Olympics.  

It is especially memorable to see the athletes achieve gold. I can only imagine how that must feel after years and years of training, to stand on the podium, see your flag raised and hear your national anthem played in your honour. Wow! I get goosebumps just thinking about it!

It is the moment these athletes have dreamed of and to see it become a reality must be so satisfying and yet completely overwhelming all at once.

That type of success does not come easily. It requires day after day, month after month, and year after year being faithful in tasks that at times may seem insignificant. Putting consistent effort forth each and every day however, has tremendous potential to compound itself into a powerful, positive force to be reckoned with.

In the book The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy, he talks about the truth that there is no real secret to being successful. He shares that success just naturally comes when people repeat positive and productive habits over and over.

It makes complete sense. If you want to lose weight, you must eat healthy and exercise consistently. Having one good day and expecting the scale to move is ridiculous. Being consistent is the key. It sounds simple, yet life sometimes gets in the way even with our best intentions.

So how can we go for the gold in our everyday lives and see profound, lasting change? 

Here are 5 tips to help you get to the top of your podium.

Photo by cottonbro studio

Determine your "why"

Your why is the core motivation and/or people behind your reasons for wanting to better your life. You need to clearly define why you want to make changes and who it will affect the most.

When times get tough, a strong why will keep you going.  A friend of mine was building a home business and her goal was to eventually quit her corporate job. She would get up early and stay up late working her other job in between. She was exhausted, but laser focused on her goals.

Her why kept her going. She wanted to be more present in her kids' lives. She wanted to be at the bus stop every day for her kids when they became school age and staying focused on that kept her going even through the hardest times.

She did eventually quit her corporate job and her home business is absolutely thriving due to her having a clearly defined why that kept her motivated.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

Envison your end goal

If your goal is to be 40 lbs thinner, envision yourself as such and imagine what that type of healthier life will provide you.

If you wish to be more financially fit and are working towards that, picture yourself debt free and what that will look like for you and your family.

If you are wishing to become pregnant, decorate the nursery and imagine rocking that precious baby in your loving arms.

Create a dream board of all that you aspire to achieve. Put it out there and speak positively about what you hope to achieve. 

Visualization is a very power tool.  Keep picturing the life you will have when you attain your goal, envision it and dream it into reality. 

Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash

Speak and think positively

Phrase what you want to become as if you have already achieved it such as: "I am a healthy, fit calm and relaxed mom" or "I am a highly successful business woman with a large team under me."

Speak in absolutes like "WHEN this happens not IF this happens. This shows belief in yourself and your abilities.

Don't let negative thoughts or self doubt creep in. Be your best cheerleader, not your worst critic.

By speaking positively and putting it "out there "with confidence,  it is your way of being accountable and saying, "Mark my words everyone, I am making this happen in my life."

Photo by Susan G. Komen 3-Day on Unsplash

Surround yourself with positive people

They say you become like the five people you hang around with the most.

Choose those five people very carefully. Make sure they are upstanding people of substance who keep you moving towards your goals, not against them.

Gravitate towards people who edify you and fill your cup so you feel doubly inspired to pursue your dreams when you are with them.  

Photo by Andres Ayrton

Get a success partner

Find someone who is on a similar journey as you, with the same goals and partner up with them. Maybe you both want to start a home business or lose weight or save money. Work on it together and check in with each other often to see how each other is progressing.

Share honestly how things are going even if you are struggling. These people will help you stay accountable too as you each day get a little closer to your goals.

Remember that God is the greatest success partner and he wants to see you become all you can be. Call on him for strength, patience, and wisdom.

Striving for a better life is a continuous process. We should all be striving to better ourselves in many areas as no one is ever too old to learn new things and all of us are truly works in progress.

Life can get pretty comfortable, but nothing ever grows in a comfort zone. We need to want better things for our lives. I know I want better for my life each and every day.

Don't lose heart.

I believe in you.

Keep being faithful.

If you do, you will see results. It is the compound effect in action.

Envision it with me. Take a deep breath. Close your eyes and see it.

I see your flag being raised and I can hear the national anthem being played in your honour. Can't you see it and hear it too?

Until next time
~ Dana

Proverbs 16:3 ~  Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Little Lesson Learned: Gold medal lifestyles are created by being faithful in the small, positive things each and every day.

Copyright: © 2024, littlelessonslearnedbydana 2nd edition, first edition, 2016 Go For the Gold 

For more information on the book referenced in this blog please see: Hardy, D. (2011). The compound effect. Vanguard Press. 

Tags: Olympics, medals, podium, Summer Olympics 2024, Paris Olympics 2024, gold medal lifestyle

Author

Dana Romualdi is a Canadian elementary teacher, blogger, author, and speaker. Dana desires to "love God and love people" whole heartedly. She has a passion for helping others and spreading much needed encouragement. Dana lives in Canada with her husband and two grown children. When she is not working in the classroom or blogging, she enjoys drinking coffee, watching Netflix and reading great books.