Respecting the journey.

Things don’t always go as we hope, or as we feel we we are capable of. This can be difficult to take at the time but it is important to allow ourselves to get frustrated. It is also important to then be able to accept it and move on. Most things happen for a reason, and in the journey of sport, or another other hobby/work for that matter, the route of progression will not always be linear, but that’s ok!

Lessons taught.

Everyone has their own journey, and every high and low has a purpose that will serve us in the long run. Whilst we may not appreciate or recognise it at the time, the lows teach is invaluable lessons, and sometimes they are actually for the best. Without the lows, mistakes, or difficulties, we would not be able to progress and become stronger athletes. It is great when things go amazingly and to plan, but that doesn’t teach us to fight. The tougher times remind us that nothing worth having comes easily, and it reminds us to never take the journey for granted. We always come away from the tough times with a new lesson, whether that be about our approach, our training, our mindset, our everyday life, or just what it means to be human. There is also a positive to take away and remind us that all aspects of the journey need to be respected.

Appreciate. ​

The highs are great, and it’s what we all work hard for, but without the lows we wouldn’t be able to appreciate the meaning of the highs. Tough times set us up to value the highs so much more. When things do eventually go as we hope, and the stars all align, the feeling will be so much sweeter and hold so much more worth, because we know what it’s like not to get there. Those who have experienced the tougher times and have had hiccups on their journey, learn to appreciate every step of the ride whether it be positive or testing.

Gives us fight. 

If you’ve had to battle through the lows, you have had to pick yourself up when you’re down and carry on. You have had to keeping pushing forward when the odds were stacked against you and not give up. Now, this creates an invaluable trait, or creates fight. The difficulties light the fire in our stomachs that makes us more and more determined. It gives us that edge and deeper drive that perhaps those who have not experienced many lows don’t have. Therefore, the lows should be cherished and grabbed hold of, because the fight they give us cannot be earned any other way. True strength develops when you have to continually get back up when times push you down. 

So, next time you face an obstacle in the road that pushes you off the straight road ahead, recognise the invaluable lessons you are learning and know that that experience will only make you stronger in the long run.