Qatar successfully delivered a spectacular Fifa 2022 with beautiful memories and some great lessons. For Qatar it was was a huge undertaking, but it was delivered with such grace, diligence, bravery, and courage that it has left us all with a calling — the calling for discipline, respect, hard work, and for commitment.
There are lessons for us all to learn, especially for our youth in the region.
This event has imprinted the following lessons on us, some of which are:
Hard work: Nothing comes easy in life. For Qatar to make Fifa a possibility and for Messi to win the World Cup, there is only one lesson here, and that is hard work. Whatever you want to achieve will only come if you are ready to work for it. Our dreams and aspirations will take form with consistent effort, and nothing will ever replace hard work.
Failure: Success is always built on failure. Messi has missed more shots than he has scored, missed penalties, and lost finals before winning. So do not be discouraged from failing. As it is rightly said, failure is the mother of success. Failure allows us to learn and try again. Any person who has been discussed as a GOAT in their field has known failure as a lifelong friend. So, make friends with your failures and learn from your setbacks.
Respect: Stick to your core values, principles, and your beliefs. Our confidence and individuality come from who we are. We cannot be someone else to prove our worth or our capabilities. Take pride in what you have, value it, and respect it; if you do, others will too.
Commitment: Reaching your goals is always challenging. Do not get derailed and scared of bullies and negativity. There is always criticism at every turn. However, respect others' views, take feedback and advice that is coming your way but do not let negativity and criticism affect your commitment to do your best.
Teamwork: The one thing to learn from sports is to work in teams. It is the team that makes the game victorious, not one person. So, find your team, work with others, appreciate those who help you and take the opportunity of playing beside another person, as success comes with joint effort. Include others and do not divide. Division only brings loss, while inclusion will always bring opportunity and success.
Passion: The passion for winning the trophy is something that every player has. Their passion is their driver. Find passion in your work or work for your passion but ensure to include it in your equation. Being passionate about your work will increase your productivity and help you celebrate your achievements.
Time Management: A event is accomplished, and a game is won only when delivered in time. Be conscious of how you spend your time. Indulge yourself, but only after your work is done after you have successfully gained each day.
Planning: Games are won on the field with continuous training, planning and discipline. Players take time to strategise, to understand their opponents and their strengths. Similarly, each of us should have a plan for our career, studies, work, and life in general.
A lesson for parents and educators— we need to focus a lot on teaching discipline, dedication, and respect to our young people. That is the solution to several of the issues we see in our education today, and maybe those are the exact solutions we need for our wider community.
Massrat Shaikh
The writer is an educational psychologist
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