BOOKS

August is (somehow) coming up fast, which means it's time to take a second look at that to-do list you made back in June: Remember how you said you'd get through your ever-growing TBR, draft your college application essays and train for volleyball tryouts with daily sunrise jogs? Well, we hate to break it to you, but time is kinda running out.

For the summer games *and* your summer goals, it's time to start thinking like an Olympian. 

Enter: Micha Powell, Canadian track star and gold medalist. In her new memoir-slash-motivational-workbook, Sprinting Through Setbacks (snag a copy here!), Micha is sharing her best advice based on her experience as a champion athlete, for, shall we say, going for gold in all you do.

Ofc, Micha admits the road to accomplishing your dreams isn't a walk in the park. In fact, it's more like a full-on obstacle course. "There's not a linear path to success," she says. "The key is embracing the imperfect journey to triumph."

Despite roadblocks, Micha's made her dreams come true one lap at a time. And today she's dropping allll the wisdom you need to do the same. 

1. Bust out of your box

Before she was a professional sprinter, Micha was a teenage girl, battling insecurities, uncertainties and a major desire to fit in (relatable). 

"Thirteen-year-old Micha was definitely very preoccupied with what other people thought, what other people were wearing, what other people were doing," she remembers. "I’d love to go back and tell younger me to just lean into what she wants to do."

Feeling the pressure to follow instead of forging your own path? Ease off the stress by reminding yourself that the categories you're trying to squeeze into (Think: labels like "popular girl", "smart kid" or "athlete"), at the end of the day, are mostly made up.

"Who created those boxes, anyway?" Micha says. "I think I would have had more fun enjoying high school for what it was instead of trying to fit into this mold." The sooner your break free from these imaginary "boxes", the sooner you can start appreciating the things that make you uniquely you. 

2. Learn from your low points

When writing her book, Micha put a ton of thought into which moments from her career she wanted to highlight—and what she decided to include might surprise you.

"I'm not just talking about my races where I set a personal best or won. I do talk about some of those, of course, but I had to talk about the low points too, like where I was at the Olympics and didn’t get to race, or when I had to not start a race because of an injury," she shares.  

Why rehash her toughest times? "Those are the races where I learned the most, so it was important to include them as well as the great results." Yup, the stories where we come up short are usually the *last* ones we want to tell—but it turns out they're some of our most meaningful experiences.

Not saying you have to sit your crew down and outline every time you've failed in the past year, but the next time you catch yourself sighing over a not-so-hot quiz grade or rough convo with a BFF, reframe your thinking. These challenges are just one more chapter in the novel of your life. Take a deep breath, forgive yourself and turn over a new page. 

3. Recruit a cheer squad 

No one—not even the strongest and speediest competitor—can do it all alone. Need a boost when you're chasing down your biggest aspirations? Zero in on the people who're rooting for your success from the sidelines. 

In Micha's case, she's always relied on one of her most spirited supporters: her mom (aka record-breaking Olympic runner Rosey Edeh—yes, greatness runs in the family!). The two team up to celebrate wins and weather losses, which has helped Micha stay positive. 

"I know in any race, as long as I’m doing my best, she’s proud of me," she says. "That's what ultimately makes me run better these days, because I know that she's going to be proud of me. So I may as well go run fast."

Take stock of the people in your life who are generous with their praise and have your back when you make mistakes. This could be a parent, a coach, a counselor, a bestie or an S.O.. Keep them close, think of them when you feel self-doubt creeping in and, oh yeah, tell them how much you appreciate their encouraging energy. 

4. Kiss comparison goodbye

Ever feel like no matter how much you prep or practice, you're somehow lagging 24/7? You could be up against some serious imposter syndrome, which Micha describes as "always feeling like you're behind or you're not good enough or you could be doing something better." It's that pesky inner critic voice, telling you that no amount of skill or experience is enough to make you belong (on the varsity soccer team, in that advanced Algebra class, etc.). 

Micha deals with imposter syndrome, too. "In the past, I felt like I needed to be hitting personal bests every year in order to be a ‘real runner.’ In those moments, I start thinking about all of these things I haven’t done yet," she says. It's hard to imagine a literal gold medalist (!) having these thoughts, but it's proof that imposter syndrome is more about your mindset than what's *actually* happening outside your head. 

What's worked well for Micha is reminding herself just how much bright future lies ahead. "Instead of looking at everything I haven’t accomplished yet, I look at how far I’ve come—and everything that I can still accomplish," she says. 

Next time that you catch yourself comparing and criticizing, keep your eyes towards the finish line. If a literal Olympic track star can remember that not *everything* in life is a race, so can you. Every step forward is another stride towards fantastic, future you!

Want more motivation from Micha? Grab a copy of her book, Sprinting Through Setbacks, HERE! 

by GL | 7/26/2024