Plato said this: “The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself.” Paul of Tarsus, about 2,000 years ago said this, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.” He also said, “He was like a boxer who didn’t only shadow box but he made his body his slave through discipline, because he did not want to lose the prize.”
The motivational speaker Jim Rohn said this: “Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day. We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.”
Theodore Roosevelt said this, “With self-discipline most anything is possible.”
Paul of Tarsus ran a race but he ran with a purpose in mind. This is how we
should live life. Why do we write so much about life? Because without life no one would be here and there would be no purpose. Life is the most precious gift we have. No one’s life is perfect. But I would not want to miss it. How we live is important. What we do with our lives is important. What we leave behind is also important. Athletes have to train for the sport they are in, because they want to win. They want the prize. It is a matter of achievement. We all want to achieve in life one way or another, some people it’s sports, others it’s a job, some it’s a family. We all should have goals and make the effort to achieve those goals. Now everyone does not get the prize or the promotion or even a happy marriage, but if we do not even try, and to try we must enter the race, how do we know if we will win or lose if we do not even try? Every athlete has to practice their sport. Every person needs time on a new job to learn. Every marriage also needs time. That is how one gets better at what they are doing. You know the saying, “Practice makes perfect.” But sometimes in life we only get one chance and we either win or we lose. But if we do not try, then we do not even get the chance. So we must decide what we want out of life. Then pursue it with all you have. Be disciplined in your seeking, in your learning, in your trying, in your life. This is the only way. A boxer can not only beat the air. They must practice with an opponent. So if you are the boxer you need a sparring partner, you have to be the best you can be. That means if we are to help one another to win the prize then we too, must be determined and disciplined. If we are the one who helps train the runner, then we must be determined and disciplined. Why? Because we want them to win. When they win, we win. Why? Because we were a part of the training, and the practice, and well, you can say, “You were on the winning team.” That is why coaches are so important, because they have to train up the one so they can win. And when you win the prize, the trophy, the reward of all that hard work, it was so worth it. But to win that prize, it was not only because you worked hard and you were disciplined but all you won because you followed the rules, otherwise you would have been disqualified. This is how Paul of Tarsus felt 2,000 years ago and the truth of it still stands. So we know that we have to work hard to win. We have to be dedicated to whatever it is that we want to win and by being dedicated to it means we have to discipline our lives. This means not doing what we want to do but what we need to do to win. This takes determination beside dedication. Sometimes we have to surrender our will, even our rights just to win. But oh! The win is so sweet. You can not have life both ways if you want to win at life. No one ever said life was easy.
No one ever said winning a race was easy or for that matter winning anything was easy. Life is hard and it takes work to make it through. If you want to sit on the couch and look at your phone all day, well, then that is what you will receive in return. You will win the couch potato of the year award and maybe you would be fine with that but if you have been given a life to live then wouldn’t you want to leave behind some accomplishment, something of value, something to be remembered for? So many people die and the world hails them as mighty great people who may have been a movie star or recording star or anything that we would hail a person for. But famous people do not die every day, but ordinary people of all walks of life do. Even if you contribute the smallest of smallest, of something in this world, then you too, will be hailed as a great person. You too, will be remembered.
Don’t give up on life. Don’t give up on your potential. Don’t give up(period). You can win, you can achieve, you can be a person who has the capacity to run the race, to help others to win, to be on the team, the winning the team.
Be like Paul of Tarsus who knew that when all was said and done, he wanted to finish as a winner. You can too and here is a little encouragement. This may be a poem for children but in reality it is for us all.
“The Little Engine That Could.”
In a world of hills, so tall and wide, lived a little blue engine, full of pride. With a brave little heart and wheels so good, it worked hard, just like it should. One sunny day, with a load to pull, a shiny big train got stuck on a hill. The people on board felt sad and blue, they needed help to get through. The big engines came, strong and grand, but each one said, “We can’t—too much sand!” Then the Little Engine gave a happy grin, “I’ll try my best—I know I can win!” “I think I can, I think I can,” it puffed and chugged as fast as it ran. Up the steep and rocky track, it pulled that train and didn’t look back. The hill was high, the sky turned gray, but the Little Engine worked all the way. “I think I can, I think can,” It kept on going, again and again. At last it reached the very top, the train rolled on without a stop. “I thought I could, I thought I could!”It cheered, feeling strong and good.
A story of courage, for all to hear,
for kids with dreams, both far and near.
The Little Engine says with pride,
“You can do it—just try and try!” The End!
So here we are and who will win? Are you determined, or maybe you could care less? Are you focused, or maybe something else has caught your eye? It could be that you think that you will not be able to win? But I say this, “You can do it. You can! Hoo rah rah! Let’s hear it for the team. Let’s hear it for you, the winner and champion.” I knew you could do it. By the way, Paul of Tarsus did win his race.