eight World Champions. These impressive athletes are much larger than I am; they weigh respectively 200 and 240 pounds. My conviction, however, weighs more than theirs does. I am unstoppable.

The judges confirm this when they announce that I am Mr. Universe, 1986. I feel flooded with gratitude to the universal life force and to the Creator. Memories of my sickly childhood and struggles for personal and professional well-being run through my mind as I stand cradling the trophy in front of the photographers and TV crews. I feel like I've traveled incredible distances, and the thought co

Wandering backstage, trophy in hand, I can barely see straight, I feel so ecstatic. My coach and dear friend, Jean Pierre, grabs me and kisses me on both cheeks.

"I always knew you would do it. I had faith in you all along," he tells me. "Now you are a World Champion get ready to win the overall championship and become Mr. Universe. You've got three hours to prepare for the competition. "What did he say?

Through my daze, I remember that winning the world championship title in my category qualifies me to compete for Mr. Universe, the most prestigious bodybuilding prize. This is a title formerly held by Arnold Schwarzenegger and other heroes of the sport. The Mr. Universe competition is traditionally held hours after the World Championships: At 178 pounds, I had never pursued the Mr. Universe title as a goal. I compete in the lightweight class and am often one of the smallest body builders onstage.

Can I become Mr. Universe today? My inner voice rings out clear as a bell, "Yes, I can, because I am!"

I ask everyone to leave the locker room so I can be at peace. I sit down in a chair and begin meditating. With all of my heart, I invoke my inner voice for direction. I say a prayer of gratitude to my body, mind and spirit. I summon my spirit for the energy to give my best effort in the upcoming competition.

"You can do it," my inner voice proclaims. "You are on the way to winning. Yes, you can because you are!" Self-confidence shines through my being like morning sun through a windowpane. Now that I'm warmed up,I spend the next three hours repeating affirmations to myself:

"My spirit rules my body."

"My soul is the source of my power."

"I create my opportunities with Universe's help."

"I am perfect when I rely only on myself and the Universe."

"I love myself and feel no doubt."

"I have trained like a winner and I am Mr. Universe."

"There is only winning; there is no such thing as failure."

"I was born a champion."

Saying these affirmations so many times literally helps me think myself into a magical situation: By the time the competition begins, I believe I have already won it. The announcer calls for me to take the stage with the middle and heavy weight World Champions. These impressive athletes are much larger than I am; they weigh respectively 200 and 240 pounds. My conviction, however, weighs more than theirs does. I am unstoppable.

The judges confirm this when they announce that I am Mr. Universe, 1986. I feel flooded with gratitude to the universal life force and to the Creator. Memories of my sickly childhood and struggles for personal and professional well-being run through my mind as I stand cradling the trophy in front of the photographers and TV crews. I feel like I've traveled incredible distances, and the thought com

g prize. This is a title formerly held by Arnold Schwarzenegger and other heroes of the sport. The Mr. Universe competition is traditionally held hours after the World Championships: At 178 pounds, I had never pursued the Mr. Universe title as a goal. I compete in the lightweight class and am often one of the smallest body builders onstage.

Can I become Mr. Universe today? My inner voice rings out clear as a bell, "Yes, I can, because I am!"

I ask everyone to leave the locker room so I can be at peace. I sit down in a chair and begin meditating. With all of my heart, I invoke my inner voice for direction. I say a prayer of gratitude to my body, mind and spirit. I summon my spirit for the energy to give my best effort in the upcoming competition.

"You can do it," my inner voice proclaims. "You are on the way to winning. Yes, you can because you are!" Self-confidence shines through my being like morning sun through a windowpane. Now that I'm warmed up,I spend the next three hours repeating affirmations to myself:

"My spirit rules my body."

"My soul is the source of my power."

"I create my opportunities with Universe's help."

"I am perfect when I rely only on myself and the Universe."

"I love myself and feel no doubt."

"I have trained like a winner and I am Mr. Universe."

"There is only winning; there is no such thing as failure."

"I was born a champion."

Saying these affirmations so many times literally helps me think myself into a magical situation: By the time the competition begins, I believe I have already won it. The announcer calls for me to take the stage with the middle and heavy weight World Champions. These impressive athletes are much larger than I am; they weigh respectively 200 and 240 pounds. My conviction, however, weighs more than theirs does. I am unstoppable.

The judges confirm this when they announce that I am Mr. Universe, 1986. I feel flooded with gratitude to the universal life force and to the Creator. Memories of my sickly childhood and struggles for personal and professional well-being run through my mind as I stand cradling the trophy in front of the photographers and TV crews. I feel like I've traveled incredible distances, and the thought co

invoke my inner voice for direction. I say a prayer of gratitude to my body, mind and spirit. I summon my spirit for the energy to give my best effort in the upcoming competition.

"You can do it," my inner voice proclaims. "You are on the way to winning. Yes, you can because you are!" Self-confidence shines through my being like morning sun through a windowpane. Now that I'm warmed up,I spend the next three hours repeating affirmations to myself:

"My spirit rules my body."

"My soul is the source of my power."

"I create my opportunities with Universe's help."

"I am perfect when I rely only on myself and the Universe."

"I love myself and feel no doubt."

"I have trained like a winner and I am Mr. Universe."

"There is only winning; there is no such thing as failure."

"I was born a champion."

Saying these affirmations so many times literally helps me think myself into a magical situation: By the time the competition begins, I believe I have already won it. The announcer calls for me to take the stage with the middle and heavy weight World Champions. These impressive athletes are much larger than I am; they weigh respectively 200 and 240 pounds. My conviction, however, weighs more than theirs does. I am unstoppable.

The judges confirm this when they announce that I am Mr. Universe, 1986. I feel flooded with gratitude to the universal life force and to the Creator. Memories of my sickly childhood and struggles for personal and professional well-being run through my mind as I stand cradling the trophy in front of the photographers and TV crews. I feel like I've traveled incredible distances, and the thought co

opportunities with Universe's help."

"I am perfect when I rely only on myself and the Universe."

"I love myself and feel no doubt."

"I have trained like a winner and I am Mr. Universe."

"There is only winning; there is no such thing as failure."

"I was born a champion."

Saying these affirmations so many times literally helps me think myself into a magical situation: By the time the competition begins, I believe I have already won it. The announcer calls for me to take the stage with the middle and heavy weight World Champions. These impressive athletes are much larger than I am; they weigh respectively 200 and 240 pounds. My conviction, however, weighs more than theirs does. I am unstoppable.

The judges confirm this when they announce that I am Mr. Universe, 1986. I feel flooded with gratitude to the universal life force and to the Creator. Memories of my sickly childhood and struggles for personal and professional well-being run through my mind as I stand cradling the trophy in front of the photographers and TV crews. I feel like I've traveled incredible distances, and the thought co

eight World Champions. These impressive athletes are much larger than I am; they weigh respectively 200 and 240 pounds. My conviction, however, weighs more than theirs does. I am unstoppable.

The judges confirm this when they announce that I am Mr. Universe, 1986. I feel flooded with gratitude to the universal life force and to the Creator. Memories of my sickly childhood and struggles for personal and professional well-being run through my mind as I stand cradling the trophy in front of the photographers and TV crews. I feel like I've traveled incredible distances, and the thought comes to me that for each one of us, the journey is the destination.

My narrative goes to show that it doesn't matter where or how you start out in life.I'm sure you'll agree that what matters most is where and how your journey takes you and shapes you.

Copywrite ©2006 Nordine Zouareg