Instant Delusion

One of the biggest mistakes ever made in any youth athletic league is to give trophies to the losing team.

“But every child needs to know what it feels like to win” is the argument. What a joke.
Victory is not something that can be given. Victory must be earned. Giving trophies to losers is like rewarding a person for taking the easy way out. It’s imposed instant gratification and it’s ugly. Inevitably; this breeds delusion, frustration, suffering or worse.

Learning to perform in a win or lose situation teaches dedication, perseverance, focus, teamwork, and how to overcome obstacles. Figuring out how to deal with and overcome failure can be the best lesson a young athlete can learn! How could you rob anyone of such a valuable lesson?

Athletics teach that adversity is there strictly to keep out those who are least willing to win. Sure there are natural talents who win effortlessly while others toil to a losing end. But those who put forth the effort to win will be rewarded; if not in the immediate victory then in subsequent battles. Battles which may take place in the classroom, the workplace or in family life where the virtues and disciplines learned through sport transcend themselves to more noble ends.

Want to know what it feels like to win? Don’t try to change the circumstances. Try changing your actions, your behaviors. You don’t have to do the same thing you did last time… you can try something different. You can train smarter or harder or both. You can change the way you eat and the way you live. You can change your behaviors.

You cannot feel your way to better behaviors… but you can behave your way to better feelings.

Understanding the role of delayed gratification is an essential element in producing winning behaviors. Effort now, results later. Pain and humility now, pleasure and honor later.

Delaying your own gratification is the process which forges virtuous behaviors. The result of which is enduring happiness which can not be stolen, lost, or forgotten like some worthless second place trophy.

Learn from your mistakes and keep your eye on your target, you will get there if you understand the value of delayed gratification.

Recognize that instant gratification may be what is keeping you from your own goals. Are you “rewarding” yourself prematurely? What cravings have you succumbed to lately that have impeded your journey towards your goals?

ACTION ITEM: Write down 10 behaviors you’d like to see in your children or in your family that would also help you to reach your own health goals.