Thread by @codykessel

Gems from "The Way of the Champion" by Jerry Lynch, for athletes and competitors in all walks of life.

📖🧠🏅

"Great champions know that both winning and losing are, as products, ephemeral.

The process, how you compete and work the plan, is lifelong."

A thread 🧵

Consider simply detaching your ego from results, in victory or defeat. Do all the right little things to put yourself in a position to win, yet do not measure your self-worth based on negative outcomes and results. On the flip-side, do not inflate your self-worth when victorious.

Nothing gargantuan is ever needed...just be who you are.

Don't try to dominate a situation; simply demonstrate your greatness.

Talent counts, yet the champion knows that it's usually about who has the most heart.

Don't run away from losing, run toward winning, doing all the little things that create big things.

An archer shooting for the love of shooting has all the skill; when shooting for gold, the archer goes blind.

Battling the opponent within♥️💪

"When you begin to recognize this opponent [negative self-talk], you can take the steps to defeat these demons with phrases and words that contain weapons of the heart: courage, compassion, patience, kindness, persistence, desire, mindfulness...

...and tenacity, to name but a few. As with any opponent, there is no need to destroy or kill it. Simply acknowledge these unreliable thoughts, and replace them with words that speak the truth — that is, positive, affirmative expressions that support and nurture your journey."

"...I ask them to define who they are at this point in time. They will often say 'We are determined, courageous, relentless, brave, pesty, fearless, and tough national-class athletes.'

...Then I say 'List five specific behaviors that need to be demonstrated during the game in order to prove these words true about you, that you have integrity — the act of combining who you say you are with what you do.' ...

...This creates excitement, challenge, focus, confidence, and accountability because we now know what is it we demand from each other...If you say you are a champion and do the thing champions do, you demonstrate high levels of integrity and will be assured of success."

"When you accept and love yourself, you are more inclined to do those things that will enhance your performance in athletics as well as daily life...self-acceptance and self-love will make change possible..."

I loved the book and Jerry's insights, which are influenced by Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" and other Tao Wisdom.

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