After falling twice in the 1988 Olympic speed-skating races, Dan Jansen sought out sports psychologist Dr Jim Loehr, who helped him find a new balance between sport and the rest of his life and to pay more attention to the mental aspects of skating. Peter Mueller became his coach, putting him through workouts that he described as ‘the toughest I’ve ever known’. By the time the 1994 Olympics arrived, Jansen had more confidence than ever. He had set a 500-metre world record just two months previously, so that race seemed to be all his! Then the unimaginable happened, and he fell during the 500-metre race. Dr Loehr advised him, ‘Start preparing for the 1000-metre race. Put the 500-metre race behind you immediately. Stop reliving it. Think 1000!’ For years Jansen didn’t believe he could win that distance, as he had always considered it his weaker event. Now it was his last chance at an Olympic medal. As the race began, Jansen said, ‘I just seemed to be sailing along,’ and then he slipped and came within an inch of stepping on a lane marker. Still, he didn’t panic; he raced on and recorded a world-record time that won him the gold medal. There’s an important lesson here for you. Put the past behind and believe that God has greater days in store for you – because He does. So the word for today is this: ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!’
