Even when someone works hard and makes it to the Olympics, you can still go through highs and lows. Winning at the top is an amazing feeling. But the crash can be equally staggering.

The commitment and sacrifice that goes into the process are difficult to explain. When someone rushes up to you after a big win, asking: “How does it feel?” it can be difficult to find the words. Of course, it feels amazing. Of course, you feel relieved at accomplishing your goal.

But then … All of a sudden you find yourself wondering what’s next? Where do you go now?

Finding Balance

Especially when you push yourself towards an Olympic dream, you can find the process all-consuming. Every waking moment is spent furthering that dream. But the older I got, the more I started looking at other areas of my life too. I discovered that having other priorities made me stronger in every aspect of my life. When you can spend time working on other parts of you, you’ll find every part gets stronger. When you focus on a new hobby, for example, you’ll take those lessons and ideas back to your original goal. You’ll see yourself differently. You’ll approach things in new ways. And as a result, every aspect of your life seems to fall into place.

Look To The Future

Olympic dreams have a finite date. Whether you participate in one, two, or three events, eventually there comes a point when you have to move on. And that can be a struggle or a blessing. Even when you’re in the middle of building on your high, it’s important to look past it and discover what’s waiting for you. How will you take everything you’ve learned and apply it to something new? It gives you something to look forward to. It lowers the risk of having your “what’s next” overtake your life and leave you in the doldrums. It creates a smoother transition from one phase to the next.  

Celebrate

It’s also important to celebrate your achievements as you move along. When you reach your goal, take a moment and relish all that you’ve achieved. While you might celebrate with those around you, it’s important to celebrate with yourself too. Give yourself that extra pat on the back. Really think about your performance and what it took to get there. You can use all you learned to move forward in a positive way.

No matter who you are or what you do, we all have our own personal highs and lows. By using each thing you accomplish to help you grow as a person, your next phase can be even better.