The Game of Shot Put: Lessons in Perseverance
The Strategy Behind the Shot Put Game
Shot put is a sport where a metal ball weighing sixteen pounds is thrown as far as possible. It is a regular part of the Olympic Games. In the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, an American athlete competed against a Russian athlete in the shot put. The American shot putter went to the field the night before the competition and practiced throwing the shot put, leaving marks on the ground from his throws.
The Challenge of Perception and Self-Defeat
The next morning, the Russian athlete saw these marks and assumed they were from the previous evening's practice of the American athlete. This demoralized him as he thought it was an unattainable target. He became disheartened even before the competition began. His attempt was clouded with this doubt. The American athlete, with just one disheartened person's effort, had to now defeat himself. And he did.
We often seek signs of success in various fields by looking at others' achievements, which often reinforce the belief that we are far behind. Seeing ourselves lagging, we become disheartened. Our efforts and confidence are overshadowed by despondency and helplessness. This game of perception is prevalent in almost every field worldwide. Some people learn to project themselves far ahead, leaving thousands of others, including themselves, unchallenged and content with trailing behind.
The Art of Perseverance and Self-Competence
In this game of deception, where no one defeats you but yourself, there's one lesson to learn: always compete with yourself. Others' positions or records shouldn't be a law for you; instead, where you want to see yourself should be your focus. Every field in the world then becomes significant, and there's only one field where you are.
