A former San Francisco 49er shares about his journey to the top - and what he would do differently.
Talking Points:
- Early on, Mike learned from a coach that in the world of sports, performance was everything. How he did on the field was what determined what he was able to do next. A good performance meant you got praise, got to play again, and feel good about yourself.
- After letting his life be dictated by sports and getting too caught up in his performance, he realized how detrimental it was to his quality of life. Despite performance being the basis for playing time and praise, Mike learned that having your identity wrapped up in performance is a disaster. Sports is what he does, not who he is.
- Mike’s advice to athletes now is to understand and embrace the idea that they cannot have their entire sense of self dependent on how they are performing in their sport or sports. In fact, Mike believes the more an athlete can focus on the joy and competitiveness of the game, the better they will end up performing.
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Have you ever watched a professional sporting event and found yourself judging the athletes based on how well they played? If so, why?
- Have you excelled at something and found it taking over your life? What did you do to overcome it?
- What’s the healthier way to view sports? How have you let a bad performance negatively affect you?
- What are some challenges you have faced in life concerning your own identity?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
