5 Lessons We Can Learn from Alysa Liu
The universal embrace and celebration of Alysa Liu is my favorite outcome of this past Winter Olympic season.
…and the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team declining Tr*mp’s invite to the white house.
What’s most compelling about Alysa Liu are her innate qualities, and that’s aside from her gold medal-winning performances, titles, and obvious merits.
Here’s 5 lessons we can all learn from Alysa Liu:
1. AUTHENTICITY
Her self-expression, style, presence and energy are all beaming embodiments of her true essence.
Rejecting her sport’s antiquated standards of femininity and elite performance (and re-writing her own) is an elite example to set for those who will inevitably follow in her footsteps.
2. BOUNDARIES
Her bold decision to step away from skating to prioritize her peace at such a young age reflects a deep respect for her own limits.
In a culture that rewards constant output, her setting and honoring boundaries reminds us that discernment and honoring your needs leads to the most fulfilling path.
3. JOY
Her joy radiates in her movement, curiosity, self-expression and celebration (of her wins and the wins of others).
Alysa shows us what it looks like to follow your joy and let it guide what is worth continuing and what can be released.
She found joy in choosing herself.
4. SELF-TRUST
Leaving her sport at the height of success and returning with clarity and autonomy required profound self-trust.
Alysa had to listen inward continuously to do what she did, showing us that honoring our intuition matters more than striving to meet others’ expectations.
5. INTEGRITY
Her decisions demonstrate an alignment among herself, her values and how she moves through the world.
Alysa is evidence that success doesn’t require self-abandonment.
She redefined success on her terms. and she won.
Want to connect with these lessons further?
Explore the below reflection prompts… in your journal, conversation, meditation, and more:
Journal Prompts:
Where in my life am I staying available out of habit?
What would shift if I treated joy as a guide?
What version of myself am I performing because it once made sense?
Where am I dimming myself to be more palatable or understood?
What does “on my terms” mean right now?
If I trusted my timing, what would I release? Or return to?