Athletes have to confront every game to remain in the sport. At the end of each game, they either win or lose. No athlete or even sports team exists to be undefeated.
The athletes’ attitude towards his sport has to be realistic. While his performance is what makes him win or lose, he has to be contented with every game result and learn from it. The lessons are the source of inspiration to face the next game.
The state of being contented as Merriam-Webster Dictionary define, is feeling or showing satisfaction with one’s possessions, status, or situation. To be contented, one has to be satisfied with what he has, who he is, and how he has performed. Contentedness is a feeling that the mind states and is, therefore, a choice!
Contentment may lead to complacency or self-righteousness without the passion or devotion to the activity, object, or concept a person is in. The athlete who remains contented with his performances without acting on his mistakes may end his career very soon. The passion to achieve success intensifies when he realizes and finds satisfaction from what experience has taught him. As every game matter, the chances of winning improves to bring him up the level of competition.
The conditions of “contentedness” and “happiness” are not one and the same. Being contented doesn’t mean one is already happy, but nobody can be happy without contentment. To be happy, the individual must recognize what is enough. Satisfaction is felt when we feel our tummies get stuffed during a meal. This feeling of fullness satisfies to make us happy.
Contentment may go higher and uncontrollable. The best way to tame this feeling is by keeping life simple. The real world athlete can be the champion in the fields of finance, human relations, and professional career. But get real, each of us belongs to specific categories that sets the borders of our potentials. Manny Pacquiao, a boxing champion in several categories, cannot qualify in the heavyweight division.
Unmanageable contentment leads to failure. “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction” (I Timothy 6:9).
We cannot control our feeling of contentment by ourselves. Believing in ourselves only enlarges our egos.
Apostle Paul explained: I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:11-13).
The athlete in us needs a coach to keep us contented but not self-righteous. Like Paul, let’s take Jesus into our hearts and let Him coach us to be contentedly happy.