🏆 Two Arrows

Imagine you're on a journey, and suddenly, you're struck by two arrows.

Author

Greg Berge
November 30, 2023

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Here's what's coming:

  • The Parable of Two Arrows 🏆

  • A John Wooden Classic 🥇

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  • Read Time ~ 4 minutes.

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 💭 ONE THOUGHT
THE PARABLE OF TWO ARROWS

Imagine you're on a journey, and suddenly, you're struck by two arrows.

The first arrow inflicts physical pain, and there's no escaping it; it's an inevitable part of life.

However, it's the second arrow, the mental one, that we have a choice. This second arrow represents the suffering we add to our pain through our reactions – our fear, our anger, and our distress.

This ancient Buddhist parable, known as the Parable of Two Arrows, gives us all a great lesson on a topic that we, as coaches, deal with each and every day.

Adversity.

  1. 🏹 The First Arrow: The first arrow represents the challenges we face, be it in our coaching careers, on our teams, with our athletes, or in life's journey. These challenges, like physical pain, are often out of our control

  2. ⚡ The Second Arrow: The second arrow is the mental one. It is the most important one. It signifies the suffering we pile onto ourselves through our reaction to adversity. It's the burden we add to the already challenging situation.

  3. 🧘‍♂️ The Lesson: Coaches, athletes, and teams can't always dodge the first arrow. Adversity happens. Challenges will come our way. However, what sets the great ones apart is the ability to control the second arrow – the ability to control our reactions. This response is always what separates the most successful athletes and teams from the rest.

  4. Reflection: This parable encourages us to focus on our own mindfulness. On our own response. As coaches, we must be reflective and ask ourselves some important questions in terms of how we respond to adversity.

  • How do we develop resilience in our team?

  • How do we lead by example?

  • How do we address failure?

  • Do we promote a growth mindset in our team?

  • How do we teach our teams to live in the present?

  • How do we maintain a level head and guide our teams through adversity with wisdom and composure?

This is really about how we teach mental toughness.

The great challenge of coaching is to help our teams and athletes work through this adversity. To teach them how to be mentally tough.

With every moment, we are teaching life skills that will last with our athletes for a lifetime.

This is why team sports are what I call the “Ultimate Lab Setting for Life.”

Team sports are constantly navigating the Parable of Two Arrows.

Use this parable with your team. Talk to them about the two arrows. Because if you can get your team to master the second arrow, you will find great success.

And teach skills to last a lifetime.

Summary:

In the end, the Parable of Two Arrows teaches us that while life's challenges are inevitable, our responses are within our control. By mastering our reactions, we can lead with resilience and inspire our teams to face adversity head-on. 🌟

Good luck!

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📜 TWO QUOTES

“Our emphasis is on execution, not winning.”

– Pat Summitt

“Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.”

– John Wooden

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