How do you measure up at the end of the day? What’s your yardstick for success? Why are principles and values so important?

Have you ever been in a high stakes competition where you thought you had a shot at first place only to finish just outside of the winner’s circle?

As the old timers might say, “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.” Your coach in high school might’ve said “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.”

Cutting through the noise of the news these past couple of weeks have been the biannual tradition of the Winter Olympics. Aside from being a global showcase of peak performers in a variety of pursuits, the Olympics also have a way of skewering the narratives around immigration, origins, and culture.

Hometown hero Alysa Liu brought home the gold to the Bay Area with a phenomenal figure skating dance to Donna Summer’s music on the ice in Italy, truly one for the history books.

An ordinary BART-riding daughter of immigrant parents, she serves as an inspiration to us all. Her story illustrates the essence of human potential and the importance of principles, values, and self-respect.

Chances are that you don’t compete in the Olympics, I know I never have. So where does that leave us? Ordinary mortals with our daily challenges, we rack up our wins and losses in more quotidian fields.

Which brings me back to principles and values. Principles are where we draw the line. They are the boundaries we set around what is or isn’t acceptable. Values define our priorities. They exist more in the context of what we choose to curate in the container of our consciousness.

I overheard a high-performance coach on the radio the other day talking about how she deals with athletes that have just experienced a high-stakes loss.

At first, she said, refrain from the platitudes. Resist the urge to console or placate. Instead, allow the loss to sink in and sit with the grief of it. This provides fuel for the next effort.

Then, when it’s time to process, the thing to remember is that if you gave it your all and stayed in alignment with your values, then you can hold your head high and move on to the next challenge with a clear mind.

As a medalist in your own big dance of life, your principles decide what games you’re willing to play in the first place. When all is said and one, your values determine how you measure up.

Respecting your relationship with your own unique set of values and principles is the first step in knowing how to be kind to yourself. And being kind, loving, and forgiving to yourself is the foundation of self-care. Just ask Alysa Liu.

May your best efforts be golden in the week ahead, much love till next Monday!

Merci et à bientôt!

M+

ML #668

Mark Metz
Monday Love Movement Calendar