The Balanced Life, Huntsville Alabama

     In a recent interview, the famous Tom Brady spoke these inspirational words, “As you get older, your life changes quite a bit.  Your life ebbs and flows; through the clouds and through the sun and through the rain and through the beautiful days.  And you appreciate the moments and you find joy in the little things.”

     Right now, I am much anticipating the season change from summer to fall. Besides the cool crisp weather, I love the start of football, pumpkin picking and all things associated with the autumn season. 

     Practically all of my adult life I have been a college football fan (War Eagle!) and thanks to my husband, I now follow the NFL.  While this sport and all other team sports are truly just a game, I would argue that you can learn many life lessons specifically about embracing change through the game of football.  With this particular sport and in life, there are opportunities to succeed but also times of drawing back and punting- quite literally.  As I have been watching both college and pro games recently, I have been able to draw many connections between elements of the game and adaptability and resiliency that we can all apply to our lives.

Here are some specific parallels between the game of football and life:

• 1) A solid foundation sets you up for success.  With any sport, if you don’t have the basics down, you cannot improve as a player or a team.  Many professional athletes, such as Tom Brady, would state that they learned the fundamentals at an early age and still apply many techniques that worked for them then, even amidst their adult career. Similarly, in life, you need to establish a secure foundation of core values and morals and carry these with you during all stages.  Establishing this foundation will allow you to stay grounded through each season and be resilient through difficult changes. To make sure you’re staying grounded ask yourself a few questions:

-What/Who do I value most in my life?

-How can I experience personal growth, but still embody these core values?

• 2) Your position or team can change in any given context. In football, there are many different positions offensively and defensively with defined duties and responsibilities. The players on the field work together toward a common goal of preventing or creating a touchdown. Unfortunately, these positions or teams may change unexpectedly. In life, our situations may change rapidly; it’s how adaptive we are to the changes that make a difference. With each “team” you are a part of, you are given a chance at a support system and sense of community. If you are resilient and able to adapt, you will become successful in building a network wherever you go physically.  Here are a few questions to evoke self-reflection on change:

-Who do I have on my “team” currently and how do they support me?

-If faced with a major life change, how would I adapt?

• 3) You win some, you lose some. Life is full of wins and losses. Getting into college, a job promotion, and finding your true love are happy life experiences that might give you a sense of winning. But, in the blink of an eye, losing moments such as a failed relationship, loss of a loved one, or a career disappointment may occur leaving you derailed and feeling lost.  Just as a football team that loses a hard-fought game will regroup and come out and play another game, those who experience loss can regroup and wake up to a new day. The loss is still there, and nothing will change that, but usually much can be learned from the experience and allow growth to occur. In analyzing the wins and losses in your life try asking yourself:

-What can this disappointment teach me and how can I grow as a person?

-Which experiences now and in the past am I thankful for?

For more opportunity for self-reflection and to embrace change in your life, contact Lindsey Hill at www.thebalancedlifellc.com or (256) 258-7777 ext. 104.