You set out to achieve greatness, and you’ve come up short.
You met your match.
You now realize that you gave it your all, and your all just wasn’t enough.
And it hurts.
It hurts badly.
Worse than anything you have ever felt before.
There is only one thing left to do –
Trust in the process.
It has to hurt.
For hurt that festers in your soul gets converted to drive, hard work, and ambition.
All vital ingredients needed to propel you to the next level.
There are only 15 wrestlers per year that win their last four matches of the season.
All the rest will end their season with a loss.
But don’t let a loss defeat you.
Especially twice.
You will learn more from your losses than you ever will from your wins.
Let the loss hurt.
When it hurts, it means you care.
When you care, you will figure it out.
Rededicate yourself.
I needn’t remind you that you didn’t set out to achieve something ordinary.
You set out to accomplish something extraordinary.
Therefore, it is going to require an extraordinary effort.
One, which separates yourself from others.
And those others, are hungry wrestlers who are willing and able to go through physical and mental torture.
So stand back up.
First, look back, and see how far you’ve come.
Then look ahead, and see how much further there is to go.
I guarantee the shorter distance is the one ahead of you.
Discouragement is a dream chaser.
Shelve the feelings of discouragement and just focus on the work.
Wrestling is the greatest sport on earth for the sole reason that the people who are willing to work will see success.
It is not a matter of if –
But when.
Be relentless in the pursuit of your goal.
Make your will the strongest part of your makeup.
There is a reason why you are going through what you are.
Believe that.
Everything happens for a reason; else it would have happened differently.
There is something that you need to learn to prepare you for what is to come.
Inspect what that reason may be.
Embrace it.
Understand there is still more to be learned.
Concentrate on progress and not perfection.
Count the times you gave 100% for 6 minutes this year.
Then top that effort next year.
That’s it.
It’s that simple.
You will get there.
Hurt is an indispensable part of the formula for greatness.
A loss is not where the journey ends.
It is where the initiation into greatness begins.
“It Has to Hurt”
And 50 additional inspirational wrestling stories can be found in:
WRESTLING WRITING
Capturing the People and Culture of the Greatest Sport on Earth.
John Passaro 
Motivational! Although M not a wrestler I guess we all are wrestlers, wrestling with life, our mind and heart 🙂
LikeLike
Absolutely – That’s what makes wrestling so special – It teaches you how to fight against opponents that are bigger than us. It took me 26 years to understand this – that it wasn’t the wins and championships that mattered most – it was the will to fight.
LikeLike
So true, while winning is achievement but it’s failures that gets one to think, may b write, surely learn and become stronger
LikeLike
LikeLike
Inspirational – I always think that when times are tough or disappointment shows it’s face that my story is not over yet. This is not the end. It is a life lesson. It is a teacher through experience. So long as we keep our vision and continue to put one foot in front of the other our will shall overcome any obstacle that stands before us – even temporary defeat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I absolutely LOVE this!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Johnny Boy” Good Stuff Brother! The REAL TRUTH to the Process that takes US to the Brink of Brokenness and then reverts it Back to a Stronger Will, A Greater Burning White Fire that Propels the Human Spirit to the Pursuit of Greatness…Of Great Things….The Willingness to Pursue WITHOUT GUARANTEES is quite possibly the greatest form of Courage,,,, Fear Still Exists – Yet WE PUSh and PUSH and PUSH! I tell my wrestlers stories every year and ALWAYS include that I’ve Failed Way More than I’ve Succeeded BUT I have NO REGRETS in How it Relates to the DECISION to Get After My Goals & Dreams….It is What has made me So want to Inspire Others and Ultimately be a Blessing in their Lives….Much Love to You Brother – Fellow Warrior – Giving BACK and STILL Getting After It by what YOU GIve Back!!!! Much Love from Your Old Teammate – Tommy Pavia
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love you coach pavia!
LikeLike
“The Willingness to Pursue WITHOUT GUARANTEES is quite possibly the greatest form of Courage” – Love that Tommy.
LikeLike
3rd place, 5th place and 7th place all win their final match.
LikeLike
Not their final 4 like he said.
LikeLike
What an AWESOME LESSON
TO LIVE BY!!!
NEVER EVER QUIT ANYTHING
IN LIFE!!!
ALWAYS STAY STRONG IN
MIND, BODY & SOUL!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person