I’m
just returning from London, where I helped launch the first 7 Mindsets Academy
in the United Kingdom. Over 800 students
there will be learning what it takes to dream big and follow their passions as
part of their school curriculum. At the
end of one seminar, a 17-year-old girl asked me for some advice on how to deal
with setbacks when trying to make your dreams come true. I’ll share what I told her at the end of this
week’s story, which addresses this very subject…
Kelly
was born in a small town in southeast England. She enjoyed a happy childhood,
with her family encouraging her to take up running at school. Showing exceptional ability, she won titles
at both the junior and senior levels, and began training seriously at the age
of twelve. By the age of fourteen, Kelly
had declared that she wanted to be an Olympic athlete.
There
was a lack of funding for British sports at the time, and as Kelly neared
adulthood, she started considering a path that would provide more stability
than athletics. In a move that was
something of a surprise, she joined the British Army. Following her initial training, she became
certified as an army truck driver. She
was dedicated and determined, but something was missing in her life. She had
chosen the military for its career stability, but it wasn’t fulfilling what was
in her heart. After watching the
Barcelona Olympics on television and seeing someone that she’d once defeated
competing there, she could wait no longer.
Kelly decided to start running again.
Despite
having left competitive running behind at a crucial age for most developing
athletes, it soon became clear that Kelly still had the talent to compete at a
world-class level. Within a year, she
held two major 800-meter titles in England, and was winning medals on a regular
basis. But despite her success, Kelly
remained in the army, sometimes returning from a major competition just in time
for guard duty. In army championships,
she even competed in the men's races, because none of the female competitors
could keep up with her.
Kelly
set new 800-meter and 1000-meter British records, but after becoming the
fastest British woman in the 1500-meter as well, she experienced her first
serious injury, a stress fracture. She
competed in the Atlanta Olympics anyway, but only managed fourth place, missing
out on a medal by a tenth of a second.
After rehabilitating her injured leg, she reclaimed the 1500-meter
record, and was the favorite to win at the world championships. Unfortunately, she ruptured her Achilles
tendon during the race, and finished far behind the rest of the field.
Kelly
battled injuries, illness, and depression during the next several years. She still raced, but struggled with
consistency, and even considered giving up competitive running. After coming so far back, it was the darkest
time in her life. But Kelly was nothing
if not resilient, and she had come too far too quit. She began managing her depression with the
help of medication, changed coaches, and worked hard to strengthen her body and
regain full health.
Ten
years into her competitive career, Kelly experienced a turning point. After years of injury and underperforming,
her health had stabilized, and she won her tenth national title, along with several
medals at various world championships.
She was in the best shape of her life.
Building up to the Olympics, the only question on her mind was whether
it was realistic to compete in two separate events. It wasn’t until two days before the first event
that she made her decision…
By
putting her passion first and returning to the sport she’d envisioned herself
in since childhood, Kelly Holmes gave herself permission to attain and exceed
her ultimate dream. At the 2004 Olympics
in Athens, she became the first British athlete to win two gold medals at a
single Olympics since it was last accomplished in 1920, winning both the
800-meter and the 1500-meter, and set a new British record in the process.
Kelly
faced many setbacks as she pursued her dreams, and showed that how you deal
with setbacks determines whether you’ll achieve your dreams. Those who view setbacks as reasons to quit
inevitably fall short of their potential.
But those who view setbacks as opportunities to adjust and persevere
have a higher probability of living their dreams and experiencing more joy
along the way.
I
told the young girl with hope in her eyes, “A setback is just an opportunity
for a comeback. Follow your passions and don’t ever give up.”
Until next week...
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