Sports star Sam Kerr’s six tips for a happier life

Olympic athlete, Australian captain and the Matildas’ greatest goal-scorer Sam Kerr shares her pointers for a positive outlook.

1. Do what makes you happy and do it for the right reasons

My motto ever since I was a kid has been to do what makes me happy. My mum and dad always allowed me to do whatever made me happy, and that has had a big influence on me, on and off the field. That can be tough at times with injuries and also everything that goes on with social media. Sometimes I also might get stressed at things I should be doing. But now I ask myself, If it’s not going to make me happy, why would I do it?

It’s tough to make those decisions and it sounds selfish but if it’s not good for my soul, I know I shouldn’t do it.

“Disappointment and setbacks don’t just happen on the sports field; they happen in life.” (Picture: Supplied)

2. Set goals

I’m a big goal setter. I write them down before the start of a season. I used to write them down in a journal but now I keep them in my phone. I have short- and long-term goals, but I always make sure I include goals that are easy to smash because I feel this helps me along the way.

Before the Olympics, I was struggling with an injury, but being able to tick off some little goals along the way enabled me to feel good about myself. Other long-term goals are about a process – like winning the Champions League this year.

3. Be flexible in your thinking – because not everything will go your way

Disappointment and setbacks don’t just happen on thesports field; they happen in life. There’s an element of rolling with the punches and that’s very much how I am but I also now realise that the key is to just keep going.

It’s about having the resilience and perspective that not everything will go your way but this doesn’t mean it’s catastrophic.

4. Realise that you can’t please everyone

I’ve only really learnt this over the past few years because it has become relevant to me. Some people will love you and some people will hate you no matter what, especially now with social media. You’re never going to please everyone.

5. Take time off social media

I love social media but I think there’s a time and place for it. Twitter can be quite hostile at times, but I love Instagram because it’s great to share experiences and show your life. The messages [on Instagram] are more supportive than other social media. But I’ve learnt there are times when I must tune out.

During the Olympics, I was posting but not reading anything because [the Games] is such a roller-coaster. I’m sure when I missed the penalty, people were slamming me, but when I scored against Great Britain, people were saying how amazing it was. I don’t want one moment to define me as a player.

Sam Kerr features in this Sunday’s Body+Soul magazine.

6. Know that there’s no room for racism on the sports field or in life

I feel as if I’ve grown up in a time when we’re calling out racism [as] unacceptable – although I’m often mistaken for being Aboriginal, and I don’t know if that’s acceptable, either? My dad moved to Australia from India and he speaks about being subjected to racism.

Thankfully, I haven’t been subjected to the comments Dad faced. But I also know that it’s something we can’t be complacent about. In the Matildas, it’s all about respect and inclusion.n That’s why we held up the Indigenous flag before our first game at the Olympics. We want to represent the people in our team, in our community and in our fan base, and we want to feel connected.

We want to feel as if we’re representing all people who are part of the Matildas. It was a moment that drew our team closer, and hopefully people in Australia saw that as a moment of coming together.

Sam Kerr’s debut children’s novel Kicking Goals: The Flip Out (Simon & Schuster, $14.99), is out now.

Originally published as Sports star Sam Kerr’s six tips for a happier life