There is something amazing about playing competitive sports. Very obviously, there are physical benefits from hours of training on and off the playing field. There are even social benefits to it. People look at you as someone who is driven, disciplined and physically fit. However, there is a key concept that society sometimes fails to grasp.
Not everyone that plays competitive sports is an athlete.
A co-captain of mine described being an athlete in a very comprehensive way. "As an athlete, I commit to bettering myself in all that I do and all that I attempt — to eliminate complacency from my life and forever pursue a positive change. That is what being an athlete means to me."
An athlete is not a state of body or status; it is a state of mind. An athlete's mind is almost scary in the sense of what it can accomplish when put in an array of situations. Passionate but refined. Goal-oriented but reflective. Unorthodox but traditional. There are a multitude of other comparisons that can clarify what it is like to have an athlete's mind. However, it can best be summed up as the synchronization of mental strength, emotional motivation and faith in the mission.
Athletes, unfortunately, are usually not the ones you see jawing on TV screens for millions to see. They are the individuals that not only love the sport they play but appreciate the journey. An athlete's mind is not one that has seen a clear, paved path. An athlete's mind is battered with experience, tested through failure and confident with triumph.
Their approach is methodical and dynamic. Possessing the skill set to adjust on the fly and cater to their environment seamlessly is a hallmark of athletic leadership. Their presence commands respect and delivers respect in return. If you show an athlete you are up for the grind, then their loyalty will never escape you.
Recognizing the difference between an athlete and someone who plays competitive sports is not born out of an "everyone is a winner" attitude. This outlook is fundamental. On the field, in the classroom, in the work force, we will all fail at some point. There will be times of incredible inferiority and times when we are the master of our art. Those who come out physically and mentally stronger from failure are athletes.
Athletes come in every sport and physical training regiment. Those individuals shaming the other sports for being "hobbies" and not a "real sport" are not athletes either. Being an athlete is not about putting down those giving their heart into their art; it is about showing that you are working harder toward perfecting your own art. To play off common stereotypes, I would call most cheerleaders I have come into contact with more of an athlete than half of the conventional (football, basketball, baseball, etc.) athletes I've met.
If you currently play a competitive sport, ask yourself, "Do I have an athletic mindset?" Recognize the difference and make the change if your answer is no.
