MFC - Day 5

Day 5 is pretty much in the books.  I really got a lot out of the Tim Marks cd in Module 1.  You never know when something will strike a cord with you.

MFC - Day 4

Day 4 - I did quite a bit of reading yesterday.  Orrin Woodward's book "Resolved" is a book that once you start, it's tough to stop.  It's tough not to highlight the entire book, but a few key points I'll share:

• Excellence doesn't occur by accident, but rather from intentional effort correctly applied over time
• Written resolutions should encompass the whole person; literally a plan is devised to develop his character and thinking from who he currently is to whom he desires to be.
• For those who believe in their life's mission then, the resolutions are the how, the purpose is the why, and the vision is the what.
• "They say there are two important days in your life:  the day you were born, and the day you find out why you were born."
• One must learn to say "no" to the "good" so that he has time to say "yes" to the "great".
• "If I cheat when the lights are out, I will be found out under the big lights." - Joe Frazier

I'm starting to get my goals in order as well - still have some fine tuning to do, but I'm on the right track.

Bethany Hamilton

I watched the movie "Soul Surfer" recently and found it to be very inspirational.  I had read about her before but the movie really brought it to life.  Here's a summary of her story:

It was the perfect day for surfing off the coast of Maui.  A 13 year old surfing protégé had just finished riding a twenty foot wave and was lying face down on her surf board.  Preparing to paddle out to catch another wave, her thoughts of becoming a professional surfer shifted in an instant.  Without warning, she felt a tug on her left arm and in a split second she realized that she’d been attacked by a shark.

As she struggled to gain her composure she realized something even more horrifying – the fourteen foot tiger shark had bitten clean through her board, taking her left arm in a single bite.  At that moment in time, survival and not surfing became a priority.

Bethany Hamilton learned to surf at the age of 4.  When she was 8, she entered her first contest and won both of the events that she competed in.  At the age of 10 she placed 1st in the “11 – under girls,” 1st in the “15-under girls,” and 2nd in the “12-under boys” division at the Volcom Puffer Fish contest.  She was determined to become a professional surfer and was certainly on track to make it happen.  Then, in one violently swift moment on that fall day in 2003, it seemed her dreams would be shattered.

However, Bethany was born with the heart of a lion and the competitive spirit of a thoroughbred.  She was determined to return to the water to surf.  Leaning on support from her friends, family and her faith in God, Bethany recovered rapidly and within ten weeks from the attack was surfing again.  Convinced she could overcome her physical challenge, she worked hard to learn to surf around her disability.  But she also had to overcome the psychological fear of another attack.  Bethany would face her fears by singing and praying when she was out on the water.

Incredible as it seems, less than a year from her attack, Bethany returned to competition taking fifth place at the National Surfing Championships and first place at the first event for the Hawaii national Scholastic Surfing Association.  She was recognized by ESPN in 2004 and received an ESPY award for Best Comeback Athlete of the year.

Bethany’s ability to overcome her physical and mental challenges puts her in an elite class of achievers.  She chose to…Finish Strong.

Her unique ability to confront her fears, embrace them and then continue moving forward in the direction of her goals is the perfect definition of courage.

MFC - Day 3

Day three of the Mental Fitness Challenge - things are really beginning to take shape.  Had another busy day today, but was excited to get some learning in!  I requested a few people to assess me - hope that goes well lol!

MFC - Day 2

Day 2 was a busy one.  I managed to get in 2 cd's and will soon do some reading.  I had a few meetings after work and found time to be limited.  Looking forward to day 3!