No pressure

Shaun White's gold medal in the half pipe in the 2018 Winter Olympics will go down as one of the most exciting performances in Olympic history.  Not only did it mark the 100th gold medal earned by the United States in the Winter Games, the manner in which he won was, to say the least, dramatic.  Each competitor in the finals was given 3 runs.  Shaun found himself in silver medal position as he took his position for not only his final run, but the final run of the event.  Japanese snowboarder Ayumu Hirano, who had just completed a nearly flawless run, including completing a trick that had only ever been done successfully in competition once before, sat in gold position. As Shaun moved into position and prepared for his run, he knew he needed the snowboarding equivalent of a buzzer beater or a Hail Mary to win the gold. No pressure, right?

We tell ourselves the same thing sometimes. No pressure. Stay calm. Don't panic. Everything will work out just fine. We try to minimize the pressure of the situation in an effort to help us get through it. Shaun White had a different idea. When asked about it afterward he said, "I need the pressure.  I need the build and the energy.  It helps me get it done."

Pressure, to him, was not something to be avoided but rather a catalyst that propelled him. We often view pressure as a negative force that works against our ability to perform. But what if pressure is not the enemy? What if pressure is a positive force that can help drive us?

Without pressure and resistance there can be no growth. We don't improve if we don't face obstacles. We can't progress without the refinement that takes place when pressure is exerted on us.

In the Book of Mormon, Lehi teaches his youngest son that there must be opposition in all things. There is no life without death, no happiness without misery, no righteousness without wickedness. You cannot do good things if it not also possible to do bad things. How would you even know which was which? Science tell us that every action must have an equal and opposite reaction.  Scripture tells us the same thing.

So, we tend to shy away from pressure. And in many cases it may seem right to do so. Pressure can produce negative consequences. In 7th grade wood shop we had a bridge-building contest. Each student designed and build a bridge out of sticks and then each bridge was crushed. The bridge that supported the most weight won. (My bridge did not win.) Each bridge reacted differently to varying levels of pressure. The winning design withstood quite a bit of pressure, but most buckled under a very small amount.

So, how can we embrace pressure and use it to propel us rather than crush us? We turn to the scriptures.

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation"

A bridge is only as good as it's underlying support structure, and we are only as good as the foundation upon which we are built. Having our foundation in the gospel of Jesus Christ will sustain us in times of increased pressure. It will allow us to reach our full potential. It will give us confidence that we can overcome any trial put in our path.

When asked to describe his feelings as he prepared for his final run, Shaun White said the following:

"I knew I had it in me...I looked down the mountain and said to myself, 'you know you've got this'."

There was no cockiness or arrogance. Just confidence. Confidence born from years sacrifice and failure; deeply rooted confidence born from years of practice and training. 

Next time you find yourself whispering under your breath "No pressure," remember that just as pressure turns rock to diamond, it turned Shaun White into gold.  If you have faith and build your foundation on the Savior, just imagine what it can do to you.