MENTAL DIET: How To Create Empowering Life’s Values (Part 2)
Your life’s values make you distinct. Value alteration leads to course correction. Understanding an individual is understanding the values by which they live. The kind of person you are is reflected in what you stand for and what you do not stand for. Values are a haven of clarity. To know yourself, you must own a value system.
In the 2005 Italia Masters tournament in Rome, tennis champion Andy Roddick was paired against Fernando Verdasco from Spain. The game point was in favor of Roddick. In the third round of the game, when Verdasco hit his second serve, the line judge called the ball “out,” and the crowd began to cheer for Roddick. Verdasco moved towards the net to shake hands, as if the match was over.
But Andy rejected the point; rather, he said that the ball was “in” and drew the umpire’s attention to a slight indentation on the clay court, which showed that the ball had landed on, not beyond, the line.
Surprised the umpire permitted Roddick to overrule him, and the point was awarded to Verdasco.
Everyone was amazed by the action of Roddick, especially in a game that is not typically played on the honor system, but on the Umpire’s calls. Roddick had made a call against himself and went on to lose the match.
Yes, Andy Roddick lost His match that day however, he created an indelible, memorable event in the minds of people everywhere. Roddick gained credibility; he gained trust – his honor preceded him.
Even though Roddick chose the high road by living with integrity and lost the game in the process, he gained an unshakeable confidence which only a life founded on the value of integrity can give.
What if Roddick had “played” along and accepted the Umpire’s call and had won the game? Yes, he would have received the cheers and applause of the crowd, public recognition as the winner, and of course, gained a monetary reward for having won. However, when he looks at the “man in the mirror” deep inside of him, he will know that he is a phony, fake and just wearing a mask. That feeling of guilt shrouded in secrecy and deceit, being incongruent, will weaken his confidence and give way to the spread and perpetuation of fear in his being and contaminate his self-respect. Roddick’s choice can only be possible by living a value-driven life powered by courage. This is what it means to live in freedom.
“Winning in life is more than just money…it’s about winning on the inside…and knowing that you have played the game of life with all you had…and then some.”
- Doug Firebaugh is, author and multilevel marketing expert.
Values drive behavior or performance. Your performance rises or falls according to your value system. Our values are the crucibles that shape destiny. Our choices or decisions are dictated by our values. Leadership abilities are crushed when the right values are far-fetched..
When you become a living demonstration of your values, you give others the permission to raise the standard they live by.
“My life is an indivisible whole, and all my activities run into one another…My life is my message”. – Mahatma Gandhi.
https://successrecipeblog.com/mental-diet-how-to-win-through-tough-times-part-3/
