They made fun of him, shunned him and called him names like “Crazy Eddie”and “Mr. Magoo on Skis” but none of that stopped Eddie Edwards, also known as Eddie the Eagle, from achieving his dream. The movie, Eddie the Eagle, was my inspiration for today’s blog and if I had the power I would make it compulsory viewing for all kids.
What’s so special about this movie is that it’s not about winning and being the best. It’s about having a dream and the courage to pursue that dream despite incredible obstacles. It’s about courage, resilience, belief in oneself and making your opinion of you more important than what other people say about you. And what I love most about this movie is that Eddie became an inspiration not because he was the best, he actually came last in all his Olympic events, but because he did his best and celebrated his successes.
In our world winning and being the best has become way too important, when we focus on achievement we often overlook what really should be celebrated and that is courage, determination and belief in oneself.
It is a sad reflection of our society today that people like Eddie are a rarity. Every day I hear people talk about their limitations, what they can’t have, how they doubt themselves, what stands in their way. But what if you shifted your perspective and asked questions like:
What is the opportunity in the challenges I face right now?
What gifts am I being given?
What if I am powerful?
If I acted as if I believed I was powerful what would I change in my life?
The delusion that we live under that we are powerless to change our lives, and the lives of others, is what has held society back for centuries. What if you chose to see the world through different lenses. Rather than resisting what is or focusing on what is missing you focused on the opportunity you have to change yourself how different would your life be? What if you chose to believe that the challenges you face right now are guiding you to the quickest path to your ideal life.
The willingness to view challenges as opportunities to change yourself and your life can be life changing. Power can be anything you define it to be, it can be expressed through gentleness or kindness. It can inspire and influence others positively. Power is never about force.
The widespread attention that Eddie received was embarrassing to some on the British Olympic Committee so they changed the rules making it nearly impossible for anyone like Eddie to compete in future. However, Eddie, a working class plasterer who came last in his sport, was powerful enough to change Olympic rules. In 1990, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) instituted what became known as the Eddie the Eagle Rule, which made it fairer for future competitors.
Eddie said, “To me competing was all that mattered”, and that’s what it should be. Doing what you love, exceeding your own personal best, simply because you love it.