In the 2012 NBA finals, Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat indicated that he has been motivated by the pain that he felt during the off-season following the Heat's loss to the Dallas Mavericks last year. During the NBA finals, Chris Bosh commented "Every day we remind ourselves and think of that pain we experienced last year. We carry that pain with us, and that really helps us to succeed in this series." We have all experienced loss in our lives that resulted in pain. Perhaps the loss was something that we wanted that we did not get, or something that disappointed or discouraged us. In order to overcome a painful experience, you must first acknowledge and identify the pain that is holding you back. In order for the Miami Heat to be able to look at that painful experience and grow from it, they had to analyze what they did wrong. Sometimes when we have a painful experience, we cover it, are ashamed by it, or never want to talk about it. Yet, talking about it and recognizing it are the two things that we should do. When we acknowledge, talk about and analyze the pain that is holding us back, it serves as a stepping-stone to our success. The three keys to not let your pain keep you from succeeding are as follows: 1. Positive Attitude: At no other time is it more important to maintain a positive attitude and to reflect upon the times when we have been successful than when we have a disappointment. This reinforces our continued belief in ourselves and our purpose. This helps to reassure us that we can rebound. If we sit around and have a pity party, we will not be able to move forward. A positive attitude is essential in rebounding from a pain that caused us to be defeated. 2. Interest in Improving Self: When we fail, we must maintain an interest in improving ourselves. We cannot view what happens as the end of the world. We must see the light at the end of the tunnel and realize that, although we did not accomplish our goal, we still want to improve. Look at Lebron James, Chris Bosh and the members of the Miami Heat, last year, they were destined to beat the Dallas Mavericks when they lost a painful NBA finals championship. However, they worked diligently to correct the mistakes throughout the off-season and dedicated this season to winning a championship. So must we rebound from our defeats. When we fall down, we must look up again and dedicate ourselves to self-improvement. Self-improvement allows us to accomplish our goals. This is when it is important to use visualization, to look in the mirror each day, and to remind yourself that you can improve and that you can achieve and accomplish your goals. 3. Never Giving Up: We must maintain an attitude that we will never give up. No matter how many times we fall down, we must keep walking. We must realize that successful people have an attitude of never giving up. Did you know that Abe Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, ran for public office 11 times and lost 8 times? However, he was determined and he subsequently became the 16th president of the United States. That is determination. That is never giving up. The next time you feel defeated and want to give up, think about the determination of successful people like Abe Lincoln, who never gave up, and you too can accomplish your goals. We must continually analyze our mistakes in order to improve. My prescription for overcoming pain is maintain a positive attitude, interest in improving self, and never giving up. ©2012 Winifred D. Bragg, MD. All Rights Reserved. Winifred Bragg, MD is a keynote speaker, author and physician who has appeared on NBC, ABC, FOX and CBS television news segments. She is the CEO of the Spine and Orthopedic Pain Center. Dr. Bragg has taught thousands why staying strong and maintaining a strong mental toughness are essential to overcoming adversities. She uses her signature strategies to teach others why commitment, character and maintaining a positive attitude are important to succeed. You can contact Dr. Bragg at http://www.DoctorBragg.com to motivate and empower your organization.  | |||||
