I love the Olympics! I honor the intent that nations come
together in peace and bring their best of the best to compete in sport. And I
am so inspired by people who commit everything they have to fulfill their
passion and strive to reach their goals. These athletes have forfeited so much
of the ‘normal’ life most enjoy, to devote their time to training for their
sport. They have spent countless hours in the gym pushing their bodies beyond
exertion, following extremely strict diets, day after day, year after year, all
in the hopes of shaving a tenth of a second off their time to stand a better
chance of winning as they compete against the World’s very best. Parents,
family, and friends have sacrificed to support them in their effort. They are
accustomed to winning. They have always been a stand-out athlete in their sport, most since the time
they were in elementary school. They have become accustomed to beating their
competition and standing on the highest podium. And now they have worked their
way through the ranks, eliminating their competition, they are the last ones
standing to represent their entire country on the world’s biggest athletic
stage…the Olympics!
All eyes are on them as they stand on the Olympic awards
podium. They did their very best. Their performance was as good as they have
ever been, they gave every ounce of effort and mustered up every hope and dream
they had, and they finished at their personal best. But on this day, someone
else’s personal best was better. They are not on the top podium, they will not
be earning a Gold Olympic medal to bring back to their waiting friends, family,
and Nation.
Who do you think is happier – someone who wins an Olympic
Silver or an Olympic Bronze medal?
Research says it is the Bronze medal winner. What? How can
someone who finished third be happier than someone who finishes second? Turns
out the level of one’s happiness depends on whom they compare themselves to.
The Silver medal winner is comparing himself or herself to the Gold medalist
who took first place. The Silver medal winner is thinking, “If only I would
have not taken that one day off, if only I would have not had that piece of
cake at my nephew’s birthday, if only…. I could be the one standing on the top
podium receiving the Gold medal.”
Whereas, the Bronze medalist is saying, “Whew, I beat out
all of the others in the field to make
it into the top three and win a medal!” Our happiness often depends on whom we
compare ourselves to.
Who are you comparing yourself to? Do you often compare
yourself to someone who always seems to be able to have more than you?
Try reframing your thoughts, and think of all of those whom
you have more than. If you have a roof over your head, a warm bed to sleep in,
clean clothes to put on each morning, running water, electricity, and a healthy
meal each day you are more blessed than the majority of the population of the
world. Research suggests that when we
are grateful for what we have we are happier than when we focus on what we do
not have. Gratitude…it is the #1 key to
happiness.
May your day be blessed,
Dr. Rhoda
Resource: "When less is more: Counterfactual thinking
and satisfaction among Olympic medalists." Medvec, Victoria Husted; Madey,
Scott F.; Gilovich, Thomas. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,
Vol 69(4), Oct 1995, 603-610.
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