Why I Love My Bad Days | Alexi Pappas | TED (Level 1)

During her training for the Olympics, the runner had a very hard day. She could not run fast enough in a workout. She felt sad and worried. Her coach told her to take off her watch. He said, "It's the rule of thirds." The rule is simple: when you chase a big dream, you feel good one-third of the time, okay one-third of the time, and bad one-third of the time. The bad days are normal. They just mean you are trying hard. That day, she stopped worrying about her speed. She focused on giving her best effort. She finished the workout. Later, at the Olympics, she broke a national record and ran her best time. Years later, she ran a 100-mile race. She walked for the last 40 miles but did not give up. The rule of thirds now helps her in running, work, and life. It reminds her: a bad day does not mean a bad life. Ask yourself to try your best and keep going.