After the 2026 Winter Olympics, you may have seen a strikingly unique-looking figure skater- beaming face, smiley piercing, and most importantly, halo rings.
Right after Alysa Liu’s Olympic victory she has been winning the internet, and her non-traditional route to success was teeming with various life lessons, we just have to talk about it.
Alysa Liu just won the first Olympic title in women’s figure skating in 24 years for team USA.
What makes it more incredible is that she had actually quit the sport for nearly three years, an unthinkable time for a break in professional sports.
Image: CNN/Ray Chavez/The Mercury News/Getty Images
The prodigious figure skater got her start at 5 years old, became the youngest US Nationals champion in history at 13, and represented her country at the 2022 Winter Olympics at 16.
The next month, she took home a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships – only the second American female to finish at the podium since 2006.
To everyone’s shock weeks later, she announced her retirement from the sport.
Image: CNN/Sylvain Thomas/AFP/Getty Images
It was counter-intuitive - maybe even crazy – to retire in your prime, but her triumphant return says otherwise.
It reminded us that taking a break is not a crime.
In fact, it showed it could even lead to greater success when you honor your needs and your authenticity.
Image: CNN/Joosep Martinson/Getty Images
There will be times you will need purposeful space between you and your daily grind, to rest and regroup. Taking an intentional break will allow you to do something adjacent to what you used to do, learn /enjoy other completely unrelated activities, reflect, or simply relish unstructured rest.
While taking an intentional break can help so that you don’t burn out –when you do return to what you were doing, some changes may need to be done to break the burnout cycle.
Image: CNN/Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto/Getty Images
In Alysa’s case, she returned to the sport she loved with some adjustments – basically, the freedom to be herself – her creative, ebullient, fearless self.
It showed in the palpable joy as she performed her program, and whenever she was invited to talk about her sport and her journey.
Joy is not just an important factor in success. It’s an essential factor to actually enjoying success. It also makes the process of working towards your goals bearable.
Have you also asked why particular activities bring you joy and some don’t?
This is because God has created you very uniquely – specially gifted, equipped, and talented for a specific purpose. God wired you very mindfully.
Image: CNN/ James Lang/Imagnimages
God has a purpose for you. And it is as unique and as special as you are.
Ephesians 2:10 English Standard Version
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Maybe you know you are on the right path with your career/field, but somehow the joy has somehow been sucked out of the day-to-day.
If that’s you, we have an e-book on simple, scientific and sustainable happiness habits you can practice to be able to recraft your days for more joy. Check it out at “Low-Key Happiness https://lowkeywellness.com/low-key-happiness/”.
You may also contact us at connect@lowkeywellness.com for inquiries on other products and services.
To your low-key wellness!
Image: CNN/Amanda Perobelli/Reuters
0 comments