Why the 'Why'?

By Nikki Stone HERWriter

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The year before my second Olympics, my coach put together a training log for me that included a lot of aerobic work such as step classes, running and biking. I was an aerial skier, so coming from a sport where a “run” lasted three seconds and had nothing to do with aerobics, I thought the suggestions seemed silly. So if I was running low on time, I would do some extra weight lifting and ignore the aerobic workouts.

As I look back, it seems absurd that I didn’t ask the coach why he’d added cardio training to my regimen. It turns out that the aerobic training would help me keep up my stamina throughout the entire season, so I wouldn’t fade on tour and have my results drop off midseason. Luckily, I did ask that question eventually, increased my cardio ... and didn’t fade before I got to February 18th, 1998, the day of the Olympic finals.

We are often so focused on finding answers that we forget to keep asking questions. We need to explore the unknown in order to further our learning. People are sometimes afraid of questions that don’t have concrete answers, or answers that may be hard to discover. Kids have it right, constantly asking “Why?”

Think up questions that you don’t have the answer to. Become a kid again this week and ask people “why?” rather than just accepting their statements. Don’t allow your fears of looking stupid hold you back from learning more. You may find out more on the subject or you may even find out that there really is no sound reasoning to their response.

********** Motivational Tips & Tools**********

As an Olympian, best-selling author, inspirational speaker, and Biggest Loser motivational expert, I’m often asked for ideas, quotes and activities to help people achieve their goals. I like to end all of my blogs with short tips and tools that are driven from actual advice I’ve shared.

This week's tip:

Celebrate your milestones! By rewarding ourselves for overcoming challenges and reaching short term goals, we are more likely to stick with an objective and not give up when faced with adversities.

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At the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, Nikki Stone became America’s first-ever Olympic Champion in the sport of aerial skiing.

What made this performance so unbelievable, was the fact that less than two years earlier, a chronic spinal injury prevented her from standing, much less walking or skiing off an aerial jump.

Nikki’s achievements have carried far beyond the slopes as she now works as an accomplished motivational speaker for national and international corporations and was a motivational coach for a national Biggest Loser program.

Nikki has also recently released the inspirational bestseller When Turtles Fly: Secrets of Successful People Who Know How to Stick Their Necks Out (with contributors Lindsey Vonn, Shaun White, Tommy Hilfiger, and more). For more information, please visit www.WhenTurtlesFly.com and www.NikkiStone.com/

Edited by Jody Smith

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.