Daily Sports Affirmation 6/28/13

To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.
-Buddha

Success in most things requires a delicate balance between creativity and discipline. Sports is no exception. The ability to imagine things no one else sees, whether it be exactly where the receiver will be after a 3 step drop or a phone that answers questions for you. But that must be coupled with the discipline to follow-through with the idea. To turn that dream into reality with education, planning and dedication. Many people wish to play a musical instrument, for example, but few have the desire and discipline to become a virtuoso. It takes hours and hours of practice along with the aptitude to be great. 

It is this integration of the right artistic brain with the left logical brain that creates the balance. And through this balance is how one can attain sports "enlightenment." That moment that causes fans and sometimes even players to ooh and aah and wonder "How did he do that?!"

The way Tiger can will a putt into the hole, the way Jordan could just take over a game, the way Peyton Manning can know what a defense will do before they even do. The "it" stuff. The stuff that makes players into legends. All by simply finding balance. A balance that each of us can attain.

Sports serve society by providing vivid examples of excellence.
-George F. Will