In spite of losing Britain's Got Talent competition, worldwide favorite Susan Boyle is a champion. She not only sang her signature song, "I Dreamed a Dream", she lived her dream!
She did not have to be first in order to be a winner. She is a winner and champion, because she did not quit. In spite of all her adversity and self-doubt, she maintained her focus and momentum. She detached from all of the chaos, conflict, controversy, and her emotional reactivity.
Her loss came after a very rough week in which he had been thrust onto the world stage with no preparation for her sudden fame. Her sanity had been questioned and she was ridiculed in the press. She felt like quitting the competition, but she did not.
Judge Piers Morgan could be a successful mental fitness coach. If Piers were a mental coach, he would have primed her for success with the following words:
"All you have to do to answer all of your critics is to walk down that stage with that microphone and sing the song we all fell in love with. Sing it better than you did the last time."
Piers expressed the essence of good mental fitness. Focus! Focus! Focus on doing what you do well! Just do it! When we focus and act to reach our dreams we are successful. We can call ourselves champions, when we achieve our goals and live our dreams even if we don't come in number one.
Susan demonstrated another principle of good mental fitness. She did not allow her momentum to be destroyed by external circumstances and pressures. Courageously she kept her focus and she her momentum. She did allow criticism from others destroy her momentum.
Judge Simon Cowell also could be a great mental fitness coach. Simon told Susan
"You've had a weird seven weeks. You had every right to walk away from this. And you could've walked away. And you could have had a lot of stuff coming your way in America. And a lot of people said you should not even be in this competition. You are not equipped to deal with it. For what? To stay home with your cat and say I missed an opportunity? I completely disagree with that. I do! Well I do!
Win or lose, you had the guts to come back here tonight and face your critics. And you beat them! And that's the most important thing!"
Again Susan demonstrated good mental fitness in many ways. She did not listen to other people and allow other people to define her being. She was not content to stay within her comfort zone. She had courage to listen to herself and she trusted her ability. She focused, achieved and claimed success.
Success is not always being number one. Success is leaving your comfort zone and actualizing your dreams and goals.
In spite of Susan Boyle's learning disabilities, personal limitations and unfavorable circumstances, Susan sang the song "I dreamed a dream" and thus lived her dream.
Let us learn from Susan to overcome our perceived weaknesses and failures in the pursuit of what we've always wanted to do. We can become champions when we pursue our goals with focus, work and courage.
Remember, We Live within the Environment Created by Our Choices!
Dr. Hal
Life and Mental Fitness Coach
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