Watching the Super Bowl, I noticed something immediately about Tom Brady, which, I’m sure, seasoned sportscasters have noticed and commented on before: There was a quiet, self-directed way that he handled himself. He seemed deliberately unattached and unmoved by those things around him unless they pertained to his mission.
Living without his family for the few weeks before the game is a reflection of that mentality. He knew that all of his attention needed to be focused inward and on the goal he intended to accomplish.
How many of us use that same attitude when faced with challenges in our life? We either let our feelings overwhelm us and scatter our thoughts, or we look outside ourselves for cues or to others to direct us. Looking to wise sources for advice and support is always a good idea, but only after we check in with ourselves. Even so, ultimately we must return to ourselves for guidance.
I knew immediately that the other quarterback would be no match for Brady despite his stellar reputation. It was apparent that while he had that youthful energy, he took far greater risks early on and was all outwardly directed, as he chewed endlessly on his mouthguard while nervously eying what was going on around him. The idea of “quiet inner-directedness” did not seem to be familiar for him, or he seemed unable to apply it to that situation.
There were lots of reasons why Brady won the game, of course (defense, defense, defense), but Brady showed that inner resolve that we’ve seen in other great athletes before. Perhaps when we watch Brady and other elite athletes we can take lessons from their success and try to internalize their strategies as we face the challenges of our own lives.
Our lives’ decisions feel even more serious and daunting nowadays as we are bombarded by what are sometimes life-and-death choices. Cultivating a strategy of quiet inner resolve and self-reflection before we make a choice, or decide on a solution, can make all the difference in our life and for the world around us.
Paula Angelone
Southampton Village
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