At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, there was a young lady who captured a lot of attention, not because she won a gold medal — she didn’t — but because she followed her own Internal Guidance System and followed a unique warm up routine.

One of the best things parents can do for their children, whether they aspire to be Olympic athletes or not, is to teach them to trust, their Internal Guidance Systems.

This will let them be true to themselves and withstand the pressure to conform, whether that pressure comes from their peers or the general public.

Twenty-one-year-old American Luger, Kate Hansen, in her first Olympic games, does just that.

She disregards advice from outsiders, including coaches and commentators and follows a warm-up routine that she knows works best for her—dancing to the music of Beyoncé.

Rather than trying to be like other athletes, Kate is listening to her Internal Guidance System which knows what is best for her body and her success. In return, she has reached much greater fame than she would otherwise in her first Olympic games. She even has gotten a shout out from her favorite musician, Beyoncé, in the process.

Perhaps Kate will continue on the luge track, sliding into even greater athletic success in the future. She seems to have what it takes in this sport where experience and age are valued.

On the other hand, her dancing has created a stir, and perhaps she will move into a different path. Who knows where this could go? Dancing luger? Luging dancer? Something entirely different? Whatever choice she makes, as long as she continues to listen to her inner wisdom, she will have the best opportunity for success and happiness.

Some coaches and commentators believe that she is expending too much energy dancing. Others feel she should be focusing on her race. Kate knows that dancing warms up her entire body and gets her energy level where it needs to be for her success.

Athletes do need to warm up their muscles, which can certainly be done in a variety of more traditional methods. The fact that Kate recognizes the need to get her vibration up and that dancing is the best way for her to achieve that, is what sets her apart.

There will be other athletes who will try to emulate Kate’s success by dancing as a warm-up. While this will get their muscles warmed up and loose, it may not be the best way to get their vibrational level up.

To truly follow Kate’s example, rather than coaching and mentoring our children to dance, we should teach them to listen to their own inner voice. By listening to our own Internal Guidance System, we can discover the best way for us to reach the desired vibration. For some it may be dancing, whether we’re busting a move to Beyoncé or bopping to the Beach Boys.

For others, it may be achieved by quiet meditation. Still others will find it by looking at a beautiful scene or hugging the family pet. Once your children find what gives them the energy level they are looking for, encourage them to use that—and to forget what anyone else has to say about it.

 

 

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