I was sitting at Kaitlynn’s gymnastics lesson earlier this week listening to her instructor challenge her over and over again to push herself beyond what she felt she was capable of. He was making her do the same exercise repeatedly, encouraging her to keep at it until she got it right.
“Keep doing it. You can do it. Try again. Almost, but I know you can do better.”
And on and on it went.
Truthfully, as her mom, there was a part of me that wanted to come in and rescue her. Her coach is patient and encouraging but he won’t settle for anything less Kaitlynn’s best.
Even though I sometimes get a little impatient when he pushes her so hard, I know it’s for her own good. In fact, she’s excelling and maturing in amazing ways in many areas in her life thanks to the persistence she’s learning in gymnastics.
As I was watching, her coach said something to Kaitlynn that I thought was incredibly profound: “You get over fear by practicing.”
This is true in gymnastics and all of life.
Instead of saying, “I’m not good at handling money.” Go practice.
Instead of telling yourself, “I’ll never be able to get on a budget.” Go practice.
Instead of believing, “I’m not smart enough to start a business.” Go practice.
Stop making excuses for what you don’t know how to do or aren’t good at and start forcing yourself to go out there and try, try again. Practice might not make perfect, but it will certainly get you farther than sitting on the sidelines ever will!
Melissa says
Practice makes Progress!
Natalie says
I’m a 4th grade math and science teacher and I hear all the time, “I’m terrible at math and vocabulary!” I’ve adopted the phrase, “Practice doesn’t make perfect, but it does make permanent.” This has helped my students and myself to understand that mistakes are going to happen, but no one can take away the permanence and power of knowledge. So, even if there are no immediate tangible rewards for success, there will be something even greater when their knowledge is used positively in the future.
Jesse says
Great reminder! Just because we punch fear in the face, it doesn’t mean it will not pop back up like a sand-filled punching bag and scare us again. We need to punch. And punch. And punch yet again, until it stays down; we can then move on to the next punching bag and repeat the process.
Tabitha says
So encouraging!! Thank you!
Joanne Peterson says
I don’t remember where I read this within the past couple of weeks or I would give credit for this phrase. I like the phrase:
“Practice makes progress.” It is so true. We can’t be perfect, but we can continually make progress.
Michele says
Great saying. I never heard it. Thanks for sharing.
crenee says
I love this! It is so true and why my girls play sports. With my oldest it began with swimming and now she plays various sports (different seasons), but her love for softball has grown. As a shy, self-conscious, safe child, sports has already given her so much. It pushes her beyond her comfort zone, to be able to play in front of a crowd, to work hard, to practice, to even get dirty (how funny huh?). Even though I’m a working mom and feel so tired sometimes, I see its benefits. I watched an ESPN special once about kids and sports, they emphasized the ride home from an event, kids remember what you say on the drive home after they play, so remember to tell your children how proud of them you are and how much you enjoyed watching them play, because that is what they remember the most.
Nancy says
I so agree. Our sport is swimming, and the Coach knows how to push each kid. Is it hard, and even harder to watch? Yes, but what the kids have learned. I believe my oldest wouldn’t be nearly as successful, without the life lessons learned in the pool, time management, responsibility, work ethic, I can go on and on. Sports are expensive, no way around that, but it is so important to the kids development, I’ll find a way to budget for it.
Stephanie says
I love how her teacher isn’t settling for half way! My son is in fencing and his teacher pushes him too. It’s hard to watch but also wonderful to see our children overcome and achieve more than we ever thought possible! Gives you a glimpse into why our heavenly Father likes guide us to overcome in our own lives, doesn’t it?
Crystal says
I so agree!
Lora C says
This is so true!!!! I am not where I want to be in some aspects of my life, but I am not where I used to be thanks to practice and pushing myself.
Shana Norris says
I love this Crystal. I’ll be reminding myself of it today as I write 🙂
Annie Kate says
Yes, you are so right! Practice and perseverance are the basis of so much of life. Encouraging yourself to go a step beyond what you think you can is the basis for so much in life. Your child’s coach is a wise man.
But, like all things, there needs to be balance and wisdom. Burning out is not good for anyone, and everyone has a different point at which stretching oneself becomes too much. As a ‘pushy’ mom, who constantly encourages her children to try again and to excel, I need to remember that.
Lucie says
My daughter is a gymnast as well and I am convinced it is teaching her so many amazing life lessons– for herself as well as me!
Crystal says
Yes! I’ve been so excited at how many life lessons she’s learning — and they are impacting all areas of her life!
Crystal @ Serving Joyfully says
Very true, Crystal! Thanks for sharing! Your children are learning those valuable life lessons from you now through your modeling them and teaching them. They are so blessed in that! I was not taught–by example or teaching–those skills and it hinders me even today. Yes, it can be overcome, but it makes things a lot harder than it needs to be.
Crystal says
{Hugs!} Thank you so much for your sweet comment.
Kim Elliott says
This is so true and very powerful. We just recently started our little girl in gymnastics hoping it would build her confidence and help her come out of her shell a little bit as she is very introverted and it has been so wonderful for her and for me as her mom to watch. I also just recently started my own etsy shop/small business. I have been wanting to for years but kept believing the lie I was telling myself that I wasn’t smart enough. This was a very timely read for me.
Kelsie says
I needed this! Sometimes when I get fearful, I make myself DO SOMETHING. Anything! Action is the biggest enemy of fear.
Crystal says
“Action is the biggest enemy of fear.”
I love that!
jennifer says
Oh sister, so needed to read this. I’ve made excuses for myself for eons about being bad with money instead of practicing good money habits. No more.
Crystal says
I’m cheering for you!
Victoria says
I learn so much watching my daughter do gymnastics too. What you say is so true. I am amazed when I look back at all I have learned through the years just by living by if at first you don’t succeed try and try again.
Plateful of Publix says
It always amazes me to know how many lessons we can learn as parents. Thank you for this great reminder!
William Myers says
There is an old saying in education, which I think applies to everything in life and summarizes nicely your post: “Whatever we think we are, that’s what we are”. This is so powerful that scares me. Also, it scares me the fact that we have so much influence in other people, we need to be very careful when telling something to a friend, spouse or child. Cheers!
Jennifer says
Both of my daughters are in gymnastics and it has taught them amazing life lessons! I wish that all of my kids had had the opportunity to do the sport, but the boys either were too old to start or not interested. It has just been so good for the girls though.
Jessica says
Martial arts has been amazing for my son.
jennifer says
Been great for our son also! He begged to join karate when we moved here. We checked out a class in January and he participated in his first tournament 2 weeks ago.
What a change we have seen in him!
Mackenzie says
So true! You don’t know what you are capable of, until you try 🙂