The winning attitude in a competitive world – Paul’s approach

“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should – 1Corinthian 9:24-27”

Looking at the above verse, shadowboxing means Continue to make futile attempts, fight to no purpose. So Paul’s approach was to fight to win and not to lose. He has a winning attitude throughout his lifetime. However, it didn’t mean there were not times when he experienced challenges or failure staring at him. In spite of this, he chose to have a winning mentality.

I watched a competition some couple of weeks ago and it dawns on me that to excel in life is not as easy as it used to be. This is so because you don’t know what other competitors are bringing to the table and that makes your work much harder. Majority of people have realized that they must put in their best for success to come, thus, making the competition tough.

Although putting in your effort is not all that you need, your attitude plays a vital role. The competition I watched was a good example to shade more light. The competition started with more than a 100 people and only two people got to the final stage. On the grand finale, the two finalists made their last performance but one of the two finalists performed in such a way that shows he can’t win the competition. He put on a losing attitude on the last lap of the competition.

When it comes to merit, your attitude and hard work will be what will distinguish you and put you at the top. Your attitude has a direct link to your performance. You can’t perform beyond your inner conviction. From my personal experience, I have discovered that most of the failures I have experienced in life were because I saw myself as not capable or incapacitated to excel in such area.

The winning attitude will make you give your best to whatsoever you set your hand to do. There is a place Paul said, “For I labored more”. This short statement is condensed with a lot of meaning. It can be analyzed to mean that after he has studied those ahead of him in ministry and the amount of energy they put in, and if he wants to get more results than they did, he mustn’t give in to sloppy living and slothfulness.
For you to make rise above any competition, you need to have a winning attitude. Never think that you can’t make it to the top.

No mountain is too high for you to make it to the top!