Read Time: 3.5 minutes
Picture this: a high-stakes NFL playoff game, the tension palpable, every second a battle. And on the sidelines, amidst the chaos, a star player sits quietly, absorbed in a book. Not a playbook, a self-help book.
Well, in case you missed it, that’s exactly what the world witnessed from Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown during their Wild Card Round playoff game against the Green Bay Packers.
This unexpected sight sparked a viral reaction and conversations that reached far beyond the football field.
Why did this moment resonate so deeply?
I believe the answer lies in something deeper than just celebrity influence.
In this issue, I share some thoughts that get to the heart of why this story resonated with so many people.
What Does Success Look Like?
It is no secret that we live in a culture obsessed with success and with that comes the metrics.
In western cultures we’re constantly being told, “this is what success looks like.”
At the core of those messages is a not so subtle suggestion that we should measure success by salaries, titles, followers, and wins.
Combine these undertones with your industry's standards and external images of success begin to materialize.
What follows next is a decree that if you want “this”, you’ll need to do “this”, like “this.”
But what happens when these directives conflict with our realities?
What if true achievement lies in more personalized unseen work, the internal battles fought and won within our own minds?
AJ Brown's choice to prioritize his mental game, in this particular way, during a high-pressure moment speaks volumes.
It exposed a truth we often overlook: authentic success isn’t going about things the way everyone else is in hopes of the same external achievements; it’s about cultivating inner strength, resilience, and a deep connection to ourselves.
His action suggests that he understands something crucial: what he needs, to be at his best when it matters most.
The real differentiator, the key to unlocking peak performance, is often found in the unseen game of mental preparation, focus, and self-mastery.
This isn't just a lesson for athletes. It's a lesson for all of us.
Whether we’re striving to excel in our careers, build meaningful relationships, or simply navigate the challenges of daily life, the unseen game is just as important, if not more important, as the visible game.
Think about it: how often do we invest time and energy into honing our external skills while neglecting the development of our inner selves?
We spend hours practicing our craft, studying our field, or perfecting our approach, but how much time do we dedicate to cultivating our mental resilience, managing our stress, or strengthening our focus?
Presences in a Noisy World
Our attention is constantly being pulled in different directions, making it difficult to find focus and cultivate inner peace.
But like AJ Brown finding his focus on the sidelines, we too can learn to create moments of stillness amidst the chaos.
This might involve practices like mindfulness, meditation, journaling, reading a book, or some other non-obvious way of taking a few moments each day to disconnect to reconnect with ourselves.
The key is to intentionally create space for introspection, self-reflection, and inner growth.
Ultimately, the AJ Brown story is not about him reading a book on the sidelines, it is a reminder that authentic success lies in the unseen game.
This story resonates because it reflects a broader societal yearning for better ways to navigate life and pursue excellence.
So, the next time you find yourself caught up in the pursuit of some achievement, recall AJ Brown on the sidelines.
Remember that cultivating your inner world, the unseen game, is the most important game you’ll ever play.