Beyond winning

Earlier I taught you about a life beyond money. When they tell me about the importance of money, I always say first there was God then money. Don’t confuse that order, please.

Today I want to teach you about a life well lived- beyond winning. The school system and other sports have socialised us to always consider winning. Becoming first in class, first in a race, etc. What if I told you that life is more than that? Go ahead and score some wins by all means. But there is more to life than winning. First, you have to learn to be gracious when you win. Winning should not always make you think you are better than others. In fact, those who know better say that winning should humble you. Appreciate that there is something special deposited or rather entrusted to you that gives you the ability to win. Half the time, most of our victories have nothing to do with us, but rather with that thing we can’t explain well and just end up calling talent. Most likely you are a winner in one area and in others, you are struggling. How is that for balance?

Learn to accept the fact that you will not win every day even in areas and things that you are good at. You may come top in class today and next term someone else will claim that spot. Does that mean you have lost your shine? 

Real winning is not necessarily claiming the top spot in everything. Winning is an attitude of overcoming adversity. A satisfaction with effort and the results achieved. In life, you will soon realise that the battle is with yourself. Becoming better every day. Finishing first may become so routine that you lose perspective of what it means to overcome the odds. Real winning is usually not on the stage or podium but it’s an ongoing process of self-improvement. 

A beyond-winning approach to life is based on an understanding that we are poor at many things and only good in very few. As you win in athletics you realise the need to do better in academics. Rather than focusing on that one area where you get the prize- my suggestion is that you try to lead a more balanced life. Everything in balance. Don’t dwell too much on being number one (although that makes me proud) focus instead on being content with the level of effort you are putting in. In all things learn to have peace, to rejoice, and to have lots of fun.