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The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia are drawing to a close.

Here are three articles by colleagues of mine that look at achieving better health through the lens of Olympic ideals, athletes and their remarkable efforts.

There’s a common thread running throughout these articles. See if you can identify what that is.

1. Can inspiration learned from athletes – Olympic or not – offer us all better health?

By Wendy Margolese, Ontario, Canada, Durham Region 2-20-14

Synopsis: Olympic inspiration = gold medal ideas for your health.

Margolese quotes spiritual thinker and author, Mary Baker Eddy, who wrote: “The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.”

2. Olympic mindset contributes to feeling youthful

By Steven Salt, Ohio, Cleveland Plain Dealer 2-17-14

Salt asks, “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?”

Excerpt: “The Olympic motto, ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’ is a high ideal that speaks more to mental acuity than physical prowess.”

3. My time with an Olympic coach

By Linda Ross, Connecticut, Hartford Faith & Values 2-03-14

Her running club hired an Olympic coach for one day.  Upon learning that she had no injuries to deal with, he asked her, “What are you thinking when you run?” Read her article to find out.