Now you may be thinking this article has something to do with a certain football team and a hugely popular television event on February 7th, and you would be partially correct! It is about one’s perspective when faced with what could be defined as a monumental, life changing task. Expect the best, not the worst. The negativity of self-doubt and thinking the worst doesn’t allow for wholeheartedness. When you place your ‘whole heart’ into a task, there isn’t room for doubt. This is true for anyone, whether you’re a student, parent, athlete, or even a trapeze artist.
A famous trapeze artist was instructing his students how to perform on the high trapeze bar. Finally, having given full explanation and instruction in this skill, he told them to demonstrate their ability.
One student, looking up at the insecure perch upon which he must perform, was suddenly filled with fear. He froze completely. He had a terrifying vision of himself falling to the ground. He couldn’t move a muscle, so deep was his fright. “I can’t do it! I can’t do it!’ he gasped.
The instructor put his arm around the boy’s shoulder and said, “Son, you can do it, and I will tell you how.” Then he made a statement which is of inestimable importance. He said, “Throw your [whole] heart over the bar and your body will follow!”
“Throwing your heart over the bar,” means to throw your faith over the difficulty, throw your affirmation over every barrier, throw your visualization over your obstacles. It is what is in the heart of you, either good or bad, strong or weak, that finally comes to you. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Beware of what you want for – you will get it.”
So, as we settle in next weekend with visions of the Lombardi Trophy in our heads, expect the best, not the worst and throw your whole heart into the game (we know the Broncos and Panthers will)!
(thanks to Norman Vincent Peale for this piece of inspiration!)
