?WINNING IS THE ONLY OPTION?

🔥WINNING IS THE ONLY OPTION🔥
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I am always in it to win it & to me winning is what happens in the hours in the gym, mental hurdles hopped, heart to hearts with my coaches, meals eaten, & progress made…
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But, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t going to these shows to progress/move up as an athlete…I want to win, I want to place higher than the girl next to me and higher than my last self, I want to walk away with hardware and I want my hard work validated in this way and as a COMPETITIVE athlete, I ask, isn’t that a part of the sport?
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It’d be ridiculous to think that NFL players aren’t trying to win the Super Bowl, NBA players aren’t after the Championship ring, or that olympians aren’t after the gold medal. It’s the same for bodybuilding, the competition is real.
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And what’s crazier? When you are judged in this sport, you receive feedback long after the competition day is over so you cannot adjust right then and there on stage (like if you are playing a sport and make the wrong move then can readjust for the next point). Often times it TAKES MONTHS of adjusting in bodybuilding! It is growing, conditioning, posing, presentation, & the entire look!
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While we can argue and know that It’s not the most important thing in the world to have medals, trophies, crowns, or swords...and I certainly wouldn’t make that my end all be all, we can also argue how damn good it feels to win.
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Taken, from an Eminem song, ‘a plaque of platinum status is whack if I’m not the baddest’. When I say I want to win, what I really mean is...if I step on stage and bring my A game, I already know I’ve won in bringing my best that day and to the entire prep leading up to it...then GREAT I did what I’m meant to do as an athlete....
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AND it is OKAY if I want to win something externally for the sport, for the love / respect of representing the sport I eat, sleep, & breathe. I can still represent, love, & live this life without a pro card, medals, trophies, etc. but those things are great in supporting the growth of my messages / purpose & showing even more people what is possible!
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My point is, ‘winning’ can take many forms. We ‘win’ when we commit, show up, make choices, stay on top of our actions, never slack, always give more, build something better, overcome challenges, bring our best, & NEVER cheat. We also ‘win’ when we are the last person standing on the stage or even the last 5. We ‘win’ when we earn qualifications or points or standings. We ‘win’ in different ways, & each way presents its own real internal reward in the process & the journey.
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The most important thing is that we act like a winner, believe we are winners, recognize our wins, & be willing enough to KNOW the difference between a win that satisfies ourselves, & a win that satisfies others. Define your wins today, so you can celebrate (or learn) from the outcome of tomorrow.
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How do you define winning? 
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