Words of a Champion

"When I first began competing, my competition was everyone else.  I compared my weaknesses to their strengths, belittling me own strengths and discounting my successes.  I focused on who they were and where they were going.  I wanted what they had and couldn't see past my own insecurities.  One of the greatest lessons we can learn in this life is that our fiercest competition will always be with ourselves."  -Noelle Pikus Pace, Olympic Skeleton Athlete

This statement in Noelle's book Focused: Keeping Your Life on Track, One Choice at a Time, is something we all struggle with.  Why do we do it to ourselves?  Why do we look side to side, wondering how me measure up to the person next to us.  A few paragraphs later, Noelle shares this profound statement.  

"Comparing myself to other athletes, even in the world of competition, never brought success to my career.  It only brought discouragement, a lack of self-worth, and a constant flow of negative thoughts."

It's so true.  Think about it?  Does comparing yourself to anyone else ever make you feel better and make you perform better?  Nope! So, LET IT GO!

It's OK to have success, and to let others have it too.  When someone else shines, it doesn't dim your light!

I worked with a competitive dance team and their motto was "The only dancer you should compare yourself to is the one you used to be."  What a great perspective. 

When my athletes step off the track discouraged by the outcome of the race, I always ask them "Did you give everything you had to give today?  Did you do YOUR very best?"  If the answer is yes, hold your head high.  I don't care if you came in last, as long as you gave me your very best.  If you can't answer yes to that question-let's evaluate what you can do next time.  

Let go of the comparing and be the best you!  Let that be enough...because it is!

And...check out Noelle's book.  It's a really good read.

Reading "The Great Brain" to My Kids

Yesterday at the gas station I look to see a small farm truck parked a few pumps away. An older man with a cowboy hat was filling some gas cans in the back of the pickup. A feeling of gratitude sparked in me as I recognized him as my 3^rd grade teacher. I walked over to him as my vehicle was filling up, and he recognized me after almost 25 years. “I’ve been reading The Great Brain to my kids” I proudly said to him. He smiled and we shared a brief conversation, and I hope he felt the gratitude I have for him having read to us rowdy 3^rd graders. The Great Brain books by John D Fitzgerald were about a boy who grew up in a fictitious town near Cedar City, UT around 1896. The older brother, Tom, is known as “The Great Brain” and he uses his brain and his “money loving heart” to swindle almost anyone he can, but mostly his own little brother. Despite the series of stories of a possible crook in the making, Tom, often uses his brain to help others. The books always teach a lesson, and give you a few good laughs along the way.

So, last night, I read to my 3 girls in one of The Great Brain books that we picked up at the local library. We read how Tom used his brain to help an uneducated and untamed 12 year old tomboy of a girl named Dotty to learn to read, write, and get along with the other kids. Dotty’s mother died when she was young, and her father (like many of us men) had a hard time communicating with Dotty in a way that matched his love for her.[images style="2" image="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jimmyandshelly.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2Fphoto.jpg" width="541" caption="I%20love%20Mercer%20Mayer's%20illustrations!" align="center" top_margin="0" full_width="Y"]

Then came the part when Dotty receives a gift from her father.   It represented a significant sacrifice for a man down on his luck and even lower on his confidence. More so, it represented the love that he always had for his daughter, and somehow until then, wasn’t able to clearly share it. I lost it. My girls asked why I was crying, and I just told them that I understood what it means for a Dad to love his little girls. Then they all tackled me and smothered me in hugs and kisses.

What a blessing it is to be entrusted to raise these precious angels from heaven!  No matter the level of confidence. No matter our financial, social, or physical resources, we make all difference by loving them as best as we can.

So, if you’re reading to your kids already, consider The Great Brain in the line-up, and if you’re not reading to them, now is always a great time to start.

Jimmy Coray is the founder of Every Mountaintop, an addiction recovery support program that helps individuals and families overcome  the limiting beliefs and behaviors that are keeping them from blissful recovery.  Jimmy has felt the devastating effects of addiction in his own life, and is driven to reach out to strengthen and support others by connecting them with the most effective resources for success.  Jimmy is also the founder of 26 Peaks in 26 Weeks, a weekly hiking club that has hiked the tallest peaks in the Wasatch Mountains as a way of getting out of the world where the air and your mind are clear.  Jimmy shares his tips and thoughts on positive recovery on his youtube channel www.youtube.com/everymountaintop.

Look Up!

So often we find ourselves missing the important things in life-connections-because we are stuck in our own little bubble.  I love this uplifting song reminding me to Look Up to see outside my own little world.  

[audio mp3="http://www.jimmyandshelly.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2012-11-04-look-up-65k-eng.mp3"][/audio]

https://www.lds.org/youth/theme/2013?lang=eng

Click here for the free download.

Shelly Coray is an inspiring speaker, trainer, coach, and mom. She has helped hundreds of youth and adults gain greater control over their thoughts and actions and achieve higher levels of success through her workshops, speeches and training programs. Find out more about her HERE.

“I Knew Their Hearts” Jeff Olsen

I bought a copy of this book after spending the evening listening to the author tell the story.  Jeff Olsen lost his wife and small son in an accident while he was behind the wheel.  He and his older son survived the crash but came up against many obstacles on the road to recovery including several near death experiences.  These experiences helped comfort him in his time of doubt, renewed his faith in God, and solidified his testimony of life after mortality. I sobbed through most of his talk, thinking back to our own experience losing my mother-in-law and niece.  I must say that hearing it live was moving, but the parts he left out from the stage brought a new realization for me about how much my Savior and Heavenly Father really do care for us and are here for us.  This is a touching read, straight from the heart.

Find it on amazon.com, Deseret Book or your local LDS bookstore

Click here to see the author tell about one of the most touching experiences in his life (my favorite part of the book). 

[video_lightbox type="embed" style="1" width="511" height="288" placeholder="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fFMNlOY_aIs/mqdefault.jpg" placeholder_width="320" placeholder_height="180" align="center"][/video_lightbox]

Shelly Coray is an inspiring speaker, trainer, coach, and mom. She has helped hundreds of youth and adults gain greater control over their thoughts and actions and achieve higher levels of success through her workshops, speeches and training programs. Find out more about her HERE.

Mountains To Climb

“Mountains to Climb”  Erin Thomas,  LDS Youth Music Jimmy is an avid hiker so I know why he introduced me to this song.  But after listening to the words just a few times, I fell in love.  Not only is the tune fun and light, but the words are so inspiring and remind that I am in control of how I see things.  One of my favorite lines is “There could be a storm outside, but inside I’m full of sunshine.”  I am also reminded that what I really want here on earth is growth.  I am here to gain strength, experience, and help others do the same.

Click here to download and listen

Give me mountains to climb,

Give me rivers to cross,

Give me something that’s going to make me better than I was.

Give me mountains to climb,

Cuz I know that it’s taking me higher than I’ve ever been before.

Give me mountains to climb.

Check out this song and lots of other great music at lds.org/youth/music

Shelly Coray is an inspiring speaker, trainer, coach, and mom. She has helped hundreds of youth and adults gain greater control over their thoughts and actions and achieve higher levels of success through her workshops, speeches and training programs. Find out more about her HERE.