Winning vs Winning Mentality

We were having a little chat in class today about winning and winning medals, most often as a child, I can’t think how we got to talking about it but it came up, and I was reflecting recently on how I don’t think I ever won anything in my life. I never won a medal for anything growing up. But I seem to chat to so many people who at least won something in their childhood.

I even took up Kung Fu in my early teens after an incident (a story for another time). I was enjoying the practice of Kung Fu, as I do enjoy practice of a lot of things and decided to enter into a local kung fu tournament in London. We went down on a coach from my academy and I practiced more at the venue waiting for my turn. Turns out I wasn’t registered correctly, so I never got to perform my routine. Gutted. But my coach did manage to get me a silver medal participation award. I didn’t even do anything so really it felt like a slap in the face. But it’s the only medal I had.

What thinking about this meant though was that actually winning wasn’t conducive to having a winning mentality. Speak to those who know me well enough and I’m sure I’ve told you that with enough practice and guidance I probably could have been the best at whichever thing I chose to pursue. Not in an arrogant way because of course I know in reality I won’t, but I have an unwavering inner belief that I can be really good at stuff, if I try hard, practice and enjoy the process. And maybe that’s more important.

I’ve never won, but I believe I can win, and think that’s better than winning, because it’s a way of thinking that you can apply to most things. And really it’s about practice, discipline and self belief, which I think we should all have. I like to think that exercise and consistently showing up for exercise helps to breed confidence, self belief and that winning mentality.

So even if you never won anything too, it doesn’t matter. Keep showing up. Even if you think, 'well i’m not the sporty person', it doesn’t matter, keep showing up. Believe in you, and try to create a winning mentality, because it’s a better way to live.

Lawrence x