My favorite sport of the Winter Olympics is figure skating. Each discipline has its own elements that have to be executed correctly. This sport is such a creative, romantic, and beautiful art that only spans for a few minutes of time, then it is done. All of the hours of preparation lead to one performance. Just one, and if focus and concentration are lost, the hours of preparation can lead to nothing but disappointment. It isn't just a physical sport, but a mental sport as well.
Gracie Gold, one of the American ladies' figure skaters and the 2014 US National Champion, performed in the figure skating team event on Sunday. It was her Olympic debut, and she needed to do well to keep the US team in 3rd place. She stepped out onto the ice and proceeded to skate one of her best performances. Afterward, Gracie was interviewed on how important it was for her to embrace her skating. She replied with, "Really important. [My coach and I] have been reading Phil Jackson's book, and you know, when you let go of all the fear, that’s when you find the love for, not just sports, but anything in life."
What Gracie said about letting go of the fear struck me. She seems super comfortable on the ice, and it appears that she loves every moment of it. The fear is not there; she has conquered it. Loving what she does and forgetting the fear has pushed her to new heights. New heights that could win her a medal in Sochi.
Fear is always something to hold you back. It is never something to hold on to. It won't bring you joy, happiness, laughter, peace, and contentment. It will bring depression, anxiety, doubt, and distress. Why do we want to live in a place that bears those fruits? Living in fear destroys us. Satan wants us to latch on to those feelings so that we don't live out the life God created us to have.
So, be an Olympic athlete this year. Embrace life, and see what good things come from letting go of the fear.
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