Go niners!
As I sit considering all the fun and energies as the first week of NFL playoffs go into full swing, I can’t help but think about how so many people stand strong with a team now that they’re in the playoffs yet may not have stood so strong earlier on. I wonder just how many of them stood by their teams when they struggled and fought their way to the playoffs early in the season and beyond. In the times when the team couldn’t get a break, changing quarterbacks and coaches. Suffering injuries and scandals. Not being able to keep the ball in hand. Times can be hard when building or rebuilding!
Coming of age in the San Francisco Bay Area, I have seen our local teams celebrate powerful success and I have also seen them suffer the agony of defeat. I’ve seen so many people start a season swearing a team would never make it and then step up with cheers as they enter the playoffs, the whole time swearing they knew they would make it all along – just as everyone else rallies the call of victory. They call these people; Bandwagoners.
The truth is, life is much a like sport season. We have challenges, defeats and success. We explore new frontiers; make critical life management and relationship decisions each year. And we sometimes decide to relocate to take advantage of a stronger more supportive market. And even seek out a change in coaches to help us overcome hurdles. In the end, the decisions we make each day can determine whether we celebrate our own personal Superbowl victories or whether we’re forced to earn next season’s first round draft pick. And, as with sports, it can be boring when the same team wins constantly. We need change, fumbles, tackles, sacks and turnovers to keep things interesting. So it seems it is in the choice making where life becomes exciting and enjoyable, not drudgery and predictability.
We’re all athletes in this game of life. Too cliché? Well… even so… here are some things a good life athlete can add to their play book to help them get to their personal playoffs!
- Live your life in a positive and supportive way. It’s so easy to find what is wrong with life and to express in any way you wish. Believe it or not, most people are aware of the pains and struggles that come in life, they actually don’t need us to remind them. What they do need is to be reminded of the flowers and warmth in life that surround us each and every day. Try pointing out the positive to yourself and those around you and find a tool to train yourself to stop being negative. For example, set aside a coin box and drop a dollar in every time you express a negative or unsupportive communication. The goal is to have very little accumulate in the box!
- Take responsibility for your personal challenges. Life is a challenge. Whether we are happy in our relationships, have an unhappy job or even if we wish to change our living condition. It’s all a part of the challenges we face in our lives. It’s not truly about pushing the responsibility of the situation or someone else’s choices onto something out of our control. Just find a way to release, learn and move on. I don’t know if you realize this, but the people we communicate with often judge us for not taking responsibility rather than hearing our “excuse”.
- Learn from adversity and change your game plan. This one can be a struggle for you have to learn to listen and absorb feedback from those outside your space. And then make sensible plans accordingly. You notice that sport teams get lots of feedback and they don’t do everything that is suggested. But there are some things that are taken into consideration. You have to take your licks, take responsibility for them and move on with a solid and effective game plan. Don’t run in emotion. Run with focus! You don’t have to change your journey, just have focus.
- Support your team and they will support you. The people you work with and support are all on your team. When you decide you no longer support them in you actions, words and deeds they will often elect to no longer support you. Sometimes we have a reaction and feel we may have something to say. Either choose to say it to your ally or not, just try to not to share it with the universe. You words will always find their way back to your ally. And that can often lead to losing a team member’s support that you may truly need!
- Stand your ground. If you have a vision or a purpose, you have to know that hearing feedback does not mean your vision is incorrect. You have to let your vision blossom. In sports they call these building years! People may be impatient or have no understanding of why you’re doing what you do. It’s not up to them to understand. If they’re your allies they will love and support you regardless. If they do not, than perhaps they are just not your allies.
- Be in gratitude. Thank those that helped you in your mission. Thank those who love and support you in your journey. Thank that in which you place your faith. It’s that simple.
This is a short and effective action list that will help you build a powerful life’s playbook. Don’t be afraid to be in your own power but don’t give up your power by letting others pull you down. The most important thing to remember is this:
As the leader of the team running your life’s mission it’s up to you to take the team to the Big Game. Don’t be a bangwagoner. Be a faithful. Be your fan for life and have those close to you who are your fan for life. You will always have bandwagoners (they are a dime a dozen). Faithfuls are priceless.
Good luck San Francisco 49ners!
See you at the gym.
Love and Dance
