Post 2. Staying in the Lane Lines
A Lesson from Swimming
Hope y'all have been having a relaxing and enjoyable weekend. I spent a good portion of the day watching an awesome set of Olympic Swimming finals. Watching them brought back memories from my swimming days, and it reminded me of a lesson I learned that I wanted to share:
Before every single race, my mom used to give me the same advice: "Keep your eyes in your lane lines." As a kid, I would often look to my side during a race, hoping to catch a glimpse of my position relative to other swimmers.
Each time I did, I would swim slower. Shifting my focus caused my technique and rhythm to falter. It didn't matter if I was ahead or behind; the act of comparing myself to others only impaired my performance.
When I finally began to take my mom's advice, my times dropped. I learned to channel all my energy into my own race, focusing on my stroke, my pace, and my progress. In doing so, the source of my fulfillment changed; I began to find satisfaction in the quality of my effort rather than my rank. The place I finished meant little as I knew I had put my best foot forward.
Throughout my first year in college, I really had to relearn this lesson outside of the pool. Immersed in a new environment filled with incredibly talented peers, I found myself looking to the side again, measuring my performance against others. But just like swimming, this only hindered my growth. Maybe some of you can relate to this experience.
After some time, though, I returned to my mom's advice. I began focusing on my own path, investing the full extent of my energy in my development and progress. I ceased to waste time on comparisons and started celebrating my own milestones, no matter how small. It made all the difference.
If you find yourself in the same spot as I have been countless times, I urge you to remember how destructive comparisons can be. Success isn't about outpacing others. It's about continuously improving and finding joy in our own journey.
I hope someone found some meaning in all of this.
12:28 PM. Signing off.
Best,
Jack
