Diana Nyad Swims From Cuba To Florida At Age 64 - Three Lessons I Learned...
OK so here I am, at age 39 feeling sorry for myself and this grandma swims one hundred plus miles from Cuba to Flordia... Ouch that hit home really quickly. What does she have that I don't have that drives her to accomplish what others may consider as crazy or even impossible?
I put together a quick list of three characteristics that after researching Diana Nyad's life and accomplishments that appear to standout to me. I'm sure there are much more but these these are important for all of us to cultivate if we want to achieve the unimaginable!
1. If at first you don't succeed...
Yes the proverbial "try, try again" rings loud and clear in Diana Nyad's life. For more than thirty years she has desired to make this epic swim from Cuba to Florida and tried a few times with failure being her reward. Only, at what some would consider the downhill part of her life, she surprises everyone with an accomplishment that someone more than half her age couldn't accomplish.
I believe this is a key characteristic in all successful people. We've heard it before that success is not a one time event but a series of events that accumulate after daily actions are applied. Yes there are failures and more failures then successes however what you do with the failure is what's important and if you take the correct action then you have just turned that failure into success.
What this says to me is that I need to analyze my many, many and I mean many failures but not to dwell on them and use them instead as stepping stones to success in the future.
2. Mental Strength
Lack of oxygen, dehydration, jelly fish stings, possibility of a shark attack, non of these real and tangible dangers had swayed Dyan Nyad from the task at hand. Amazing! She is obviously physically strong as well but her mental strength is the foundation to accomplishing unbelievable things.
There are so many obstacles in our desire to create a successful life where we have more time freedom to spend our precious moments with the ones we love and living life on our own terms and not from paycheck to paycheck. We live only once and if we allow ourselves to be paralyzed by fear then we become trapped in our own lives. Prisoners to our fears and the fears of others who say we should get a better job or go back to school and start a new career. They are projecting their fears on us and if we listen to these dream stealers we will never accomplish anything of worth in our lives. We need to cultivate mental strength that can accomplish great things.
3. Help Others
When Dyan Nyad was asked What her motivation was, she replied "Because I'd like to prove to the other 60-year-olds that it is never too late to start your dreams."
In order to accomplish great things in life we need to not be selfish. There are so many people in this world that need to be shacken out of their slumber and motivated to accomplish great things in their lives. So many people think they are too old, too young, too slow, not smart enough, etc that they do not see their God given potential! Every day we have the opportunity not to just better ourselves but to also help others improve their lives as well. By helping others we are helping ourselves!
Let's discuss this... what other characteristics come to mind from the Dyan Nyad's example that every successful person needs to cultivate in order to achieve greatness? Leave your comments below...
Recent Comments
12
I remember Dyanna from her Olympic swimming days, but then I'm 5 years older than she is. Obviously this was an endurance swim, not an Olympic race. I, too, have to marvel - - - and then realize I have no excuse for not doing better!
RE: "no arms, no legs", I saw him on a video online once. AMAZING how he can move around and talk at the same time. He is a devout Christian, and speaks constantly all over the world to both public and Christian schools.
I heard him on James Dobson's radio program "Family Talk" and heard his most interesting story. His parents were missionaries to Australia.His condition is not a birth defect (in the usual sense of the word) and wasn't caused by some drug his mother took. It simply is something that VERY RARELY happens, and God allowed him to be born that way. He lives a very normal life including swimming, diving, golf, and many other activities.
I appreciate your observation and analysis by bringing true life motivational stories.Didnt you like the niche
Definitely saw an opportunity to jump on the Dyan Nyad band wagon :) It really did hit me to say, "Hey bozo, stop being lazy and start making things happen..."!! The definition of insanity by Albert Einstein "Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result." That has been my life but I have determined that I will change...this time... yes I've been here before unfortunately. LOL :)
Have a group of people surrounding you who you can rely on for support! I know Dyan was surrounded by people wishing her well and telling her she could accomplish anything she set her mind to. We are blessed by our WA family, remember to use them wisely!
I am 52, and I remember here past attempts and accomplishments. She has been around ever since I have been a teenager. Well done Dyan!!! She has always overcome adversity and she is one person that is a true role model.
Dave
An amazing inspiration for sure! I wish my mom had that type of drive. She would tell me that she was too old when she was in her fifties... We need to break out of that mentality tells us we can not do something!
Awesome lady Diana by all means. Very good analisys you produced out this NON every day act. Thanks
Thanks! Love to read about these stories and perhaps write my own success story one of these days :) There is another story I'd like to write about called, "No Arms, No Legs, No Problems" about a guy who was born without arms or legs and now he is a motivational speaker... always amazes me and humbles me :)
Right on, have read about him, have seen him on TV and he is AWESOME, his attitude is incredibly positive... I believe to have heard he has already been married and expecting his firts baby...have to
See more comments
Belief in your own potential to make a lifetime of dreams your own - when you are young, old or older. Never stop learning. Never stop going for the gold. ^_~