# I realized I didn't have to win

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-runner-didnt-have-to-win
- Themes: sport, freedom, pressure, insight
- Life situations: perfectionism, competition

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Olympic-prospect distance runner loses his first race; asked why, he says he realised he didn't have to win — compulsion to win had made every race painful.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

This fellow is likely to do so well that he will probably be in the Olympic Games and maybe win a medal for the country." But then what happened, this guy, he lost a race. It's the first time he ever lost a race. And then the friend asked him, "How come you lost this long-distance race?" And the friend said, "Because I realized I didn't have to win

## Teaching point

Winning every race can be losing your life.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

A young distance runner tipped for the Olympics lost a race for the first time. Why? I realised I didn't have to win. His need to win had made every race painful and left room for nothing else. He never won again, except the human race. Happy, kind, peaceful people win that one.

## Source

- [Emotional Intelligence | Ajahn Brahm | 13 May 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLnzgJSbnNE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 21:57 to 22:27: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLnzgJSbnNE&t=1317s