As we all know the 2024 Olympic Games are happening right now in Paris. You have people from different countries competing in various sports trying to bring home the Gold. For Team USA, many gold medals have already been won and this brings so much joy to us all. These athletes go to the biggest competitive stage and get the honor of a lifetime. They receive recognition and appreciation on a grand scale. I can remember as a kid, running was my thing. There were many races against my family and other kids in the neighborhood. I was always one of the fastest even when running in sandals. I aspired to do track in school, but I went to schools for the arts (my other passion) and not ones with sports. There was once a celebration at a family member’s building and there was a race. They had good quality medals for the winner, and I won that race, receiving my gold. The feeling was good and is a childhood memory I will never forget.
The feeling of working hard and being rewarded is a beautiful thing. It’s something many of us hope for in our everyday world. Unfortunately, this is not a feeling often received by many people whether at work or in their personal lives. But, the power can be in our hands to receive our own gold or recognition. We must choose what in our life makes us feel like we have a gold medal. On this last day of July as we go into the first day of August, I have created a list of ways to go for the gold alongside our athletes in Paris.
- Find Joy by participating in activities of interest that takes you away from the stressors of life.
- Communicate how you are feeling in a respectful way. Sometimes being honest about your feelings can create a better environment for future successes. Whether at work or at home, communication is always the key.
- Learn to say “NO” to those who expect you to help them or show up without reciprocation. We should always strive to be helpful to others when we can, but we must not allow it to get to a point where we are taken advantage of. There is gold in saying “NO” from time to time.
- Acts of Kindness go a long way. Treating people right brings that positive energy back your way. Often one receives the same energy they put out into the universe.
- Self-esteem is very important because you must love yourself. If you are going through a moment you may not be proud of, learn to forgive yourself and strive to do better. Make sure you are your own biggest cheerleader in all your pursuits.
So, let’s try to do the work and bring the gold into our life.