The Courage to Get Your Heart Broken

If you want to accomplish something meaningful in sport, you must be willing to care with your whole heart. This level of vulnerability always comes with risk. When you allow yourself to be fully invested, you open the door to disappointment. It requires big time courage.

Athletes who go all-in on courage aren’t trying to shield themselves from failure. They run toward the moment, knowing that giving everything might still not be enough. But they choose to do it anyway.

Real goals require exposure. Wanting something badly means accepting the possibility of falling short. That willingness to dream big is the definition of bravery.

Sport is unpredictable. That’s part of the magic. You can train perfectly and still get beat.  You can give less than your best and win. Courage means showing up again tomorrow despite the outcome. 

Let yourself feel the full emotional range that comes with being an athlete: joy, heartbreak, pride, frustration. Those who embrace the ups and downs build stronger resilience and a connection to why they compete.

Courage is choosing to care. To try. To risk the heartbreak of defeat, because the pursuit is worth it.

And along the way - the mindset you build matters.

So stay in it, even when it’s hard. Reset after mistakes, because they will come.  Stay curious about what each moment can teach you – not only about performance, but about how you show up when it’s hard. 

And have the courage to get your heart broken. That level of self-belief is powerful beyond words.