How To Define A Champion
Become The Best You Can Be: An Alternative View
In towns across America, there are numerous folks who wanna be champions in athletics, fitness or alternative fields. These well-intentioned, spirited, hopefuls aspire toward lofty goals complete with socially defined spoils afforded to winners.
Unfortunately, most never achieve extreme levels of recognition---surprisingly, not even all potential champions will, due in part to socially constructed systems like racism, ageism, sexism, impoverishment and other tools designed to maintain the status quo.
Champs Are They Born Or Made?
This isn't to say that dreamers are futile. Certainly most people can enhance personal levels of success whether it be fitness-related or something else, but to speak of a true champion is to speak of an anomaly where many are called, but few are chosen.
It's natural for many people to believe they possess the elusively rare, balanced yet unrepressed psychological, mental and physical traits of a champion. Unfortunately, such probabilities are uncommon. Could it be champions are born not made? And hopefuls never achieve it because no amount of effort changes this concrete yet unfair fact?
How The Mainstream Defines Champions
Many dictionaries, like most individuals define champions as winners of contests or events. Such elliptic definitions fail to encompass intangible qualities that embody champions.
Winning or losing an event does not necessarily define a champion. Nor does making it to the highest ranks of any given field necessarily indicate someone rose primarily due to inherent traits as opposed to external entities like networks, favoritism or alternative avenues that place social expectations above merit and talent.
Wannabes exist in all areas of life. It could be argued that many folks who occupy prominent positions has more to do with tradition than it has to do with a special breed possessing unique qualities. Thus, true champions should be defined less along mainstream ideals and more along esoteric themes that challenge ordinary lexicons.
Marks Of A Winner?
Whether it is athletics fitness or other endeavors, there are commonalities amongst champions. Although every common thread cannot possibly be discussed here, there are some easily recognizable attributes that champions possess, which become immediately detectable to those honest enough to see with "open" eyes.
Champions don't make excuses. They take charge, lead by example and see thru trends, distractions or gimmicks regardless of the source. Champs uphold their convictions with or without outright approval although they welcome opposing views.
As natural visionaries, champions often see possibilities before such things unfold. Life is not seen in separate parts, but rather as a synergistic whole with an interdependent nature perpetually straining for unison with the environment.
Champions tend to be inquisitive. They enjoy learning simply for the pleasure of becoming well-rounded. On the other hand, wannabes are often closed to alternative viewpoints, threatened by differences and instead vie to exist within collectives of like-minded individuals.
Champs aren't driven by egotism. They’re unpretentious individuals who feel little ongoing need to prove their self-worth---a tendency associated to insecurity. Champs give their best efforts when required, but understand they cannot nor do they want to control all outcomes.
They acknowledge what they do not understand, can make mistakes and move on without feeling weak or overly apologetic, while wannabes rarely fess to shortcomings or ignorance. Champs realize they cannot satisfy everyone all the time and they have no compulsion to always be right or center stage.
As realists, champions understand the world owes them nothing in terms of entitlement so they don't waste time waiting for good luck to happen. Because champions are an enlightened bunch, they make good things happen for themselves and those around them. And they have no need to boast accomplishments---big or small--- because their actions silently speak volumes. Wannabes campaign their presence.
Therefore, is it inconceivable to say that champs are born not made? Whether fact or fiction, it's clear that true champions possess unusual qualities that transcend narrow social definitions.
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