DO YOU HAVE THE HEART OF A CHAMPION?
“Never underestimate the heart of a champion.” Maybe you’ve heard a coach or a broadcaster say those words at some point – probably just after someone's improbable victory. It’s true. The heart of a champion is a powerful thing, and it shouldn't be underestimated. Those we consider the very best are driven by a deep love for doing the work and embracing the process that winning requires. It’s worth taking a minute today to stop and consider, in the important areas of your life, this simple question: do you have the heart of a champion?
When you put your heart into something, it’s usually easy to see. One way people see it is through your passion. When you're driven by a powerful, passionate feeling on the inside, it has a way of showing itself on the outside. For most of us, it’s that passionate feeling that first comes to mind when we think about love. That’s because typically, what we feel plays an important part in loving anything or anyone. You've probably experienced the feelings that come with being in love – the butterflies in your stomach, the racing heart, the euphoria. The truth is, feelings matter. They can energize and empower us, and drive us to do some remarkable things.
That kind of feeling – that passion – is an important part of becoming your best in any area. I want to encourage you to bring that passion with you today. If you love what you do, show it! It should be tough to contain. Your passion energizes and empowers those around you. It can drive you and your team to do some remarkable things, all in the name of love.
At the same time, I want you to recognize the reality of our feelings. No matter how powerful they might be in a moment, the truth is that feelings fade. They ebb and flow. They come and go. And while the heart of a champion is displayed through that passion, there’s more that separates the very best from everyone else. There’s something that runs deeper and holds stronger than a fleeting feeling ever can.
What runs deeper and holds stronger in the heart of a champion is a unique level of commitment. That commitment is represented not by how the champion feels, but rather by the conscious choice they make each day to honor what they love, regardless of how they feel. The champion recognizes that when it comes to chasing excellence in the areas that matter most, passion is important…but commitment is essential.
Passion is important…but commitment is essential.
Stop and consider for a minute a couple you know who’s experienced long-term success in marriage. I mentioned already that at some point, all of us have felt the feelings associated with love, and of course a lasting couple has, too. But do you really think they've spent the life of their relationship floating on a cloud of butterflies, racing hearts, and euphoric feelings? Of course not. We said it already. Feelings come and go for all of us, and they do for these people, too. So why have they not only survived, but thrived in this important but challenging area of life, when so many around them don't make it? Because they've made a conscious decision to honor what they love - over and over again each day, regardless of how they feel. What that kind of commitment creates, in a relationship or any other area of life, is impressive and unique.
I want to encourage you to attack whatever's in front of you today with a passion that energizes and empowers yourself and those around you. But more importantly, I want to encourage you to do what winning requires you to do, even if you don't feel like it. That's the kind of commitment that will help you create something impressive and unique. That's what separates the very best from everyone else. That's the heart of what makes a champion a champion.