| Last week I used this space to talk about the mental health of our athletes, and I was overwhelmed by the amount of replies to this email saying “Thank you” and sharing some heart wrenching stories. As a result, Jerry and I decided to do an entire Fireside Chat podcast on the topic, and give you some concrete tips on what to look out for, and what to do if you notice your athletes struggling. But before I start, I wanted to share with you a quick excerpt from Jerry’s forthcoming book The Competitive Buddha on change and impermanence that has brought me great comfort many times during these last few months. I hope you enjoy it as well: “ There is only one constant in life and that is, change will happen. The seasons of the year, the cycle of weather, the journey of life and death, the rising of the sun, the setting of the moon. Impermanence is a fact of life. Many practitioners understand such changes as the cornerstone of Buddhist teachings. Nothing lasts and our futile attempts to hold onto things is the root of much suffering. The wisdom of Buddhist thought suggests that “impermanence is inescapable; all things vanish. Time, itself, is impermanent.” In my life, I have experienced sadness and loss yet in time, these periods change into joy and gain only to return back to sadness and loss once again. Life fluctuates. The Buddha reminds me that life is ten thousand joys, ten thousand sorrows for all of us. Nothing is endless bliss or joy. There is social injustice and simple struggle with how unfair life seems to be. My tears due to the loss of a friend or a defeat in the sports arena, searing as it may be, is the by-product of deep love. All loss and challenging change in life deepens my ability to connect with passion and love. When you take a good look at your world of athletics, there is nothing to cling to. Your grasping to hold on to results and outcomes is continually challenged…Athletics, like life, is a continually moving pendulum, a never-ending process constantly recycling itself as it gains eternal life. If you don’t like a situation, know that, in time, it will change. All you can do at any moment is focus not upon what’s changed but on what you have and how you will make the most of that, doing the best you can to get the most out of your experience. Discover the gem inside the darkness. By embracing impermanence profoundly, you become free and liberated. This entails letting go, not of your efforts, work ethic or your wish to master your craft, but of the constant change and impermanence of life and your desperate need to control it all. Buddhist teacher Ajahn Chah reminds us, “if you let go a little, you’ll have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you’ll have a lot of peace. If you let go completely, you’ll have complete peace.” Thanks everyone! I hope you have enjoyed that as much as I have. Here are some other links: Check out our fireside chat “How to Support Your Athletes’ mental Health Every Moment Matters: How the World’s Best Coaches Inspire Their Athletes and Build Championship Teams is now on Audible and other platforms where you get your favorite audiobooks! If you have never tried Audible before click the link and listen to my book for free! Thanks to everyone who has chosen to support our work through our Patreon page. You can get transcripts, plus our five most popular online courses for a huge discount by becoming a monthly or annual podcast supporter Enjoy! |
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