Do Humans Need People?
In the fast-paced world of sports and performance, athletes often find themselves questioning the nature of relationships—both with others and with themselves. This blog and guidebook delve into the question, “Do humans need people?” and explore how athletes can build meaningful connections, not only with those around them but with their future selves, through a day-to-day journey of spiritual practice and self-refinement. Here is a taster of our guidebook in the resources section.
The Need for Relationships
At some point, most of us have asked, "Do I really need a relationship?" For athletes, the demand for peak performance often overshadows the importance of interpersonal connections. But the answer may surprise you: Yes, humans do need relationships, but the key lies in understanding who that relationship is with.
Who?
A Remarkable Person: Athletes often focus on external relationships—coaches, teammates, and supporters—but sometimes the most important relationship is internal. You need a relationship with a remarkable person: your future self. This future version of you, honed through daily practice and refinement, can be your greatest ally.
Not Me Now, But Myself of the Future: Instead of focusing solely on who you are today, focus on who you are becoming. This version of yourself holds the wisdom, experience, and success you aim to achieve. How do you establish this relationship? By fostering daily routines that feed your growth.
Enabling Yourself In sports, success comes from enabling yourself—not waiting for someone else to unlock your potential. Self-enablement starts with recognizing that your journey isn’t about reaching perfection but refining the tools you already have.
How?
Day-to-Day Spiritual Practice: Just like physical training, mental and spiritual routines are vital. Creating a daily practice of spiritual qualities—such as discipline, gratitude, focus, and mindfulness—can provide the framework for ongoing growth. These qualities need to be refined every day, becoming part of who you are as both an athlete and a person.
Circular Journey: Imagine your journey as a figure-eight loop, a continuous cycle of learning, practicing, and refining. Each day, you accumulate experience that enhances your skills and deepens your understanding of your sport and yourself.
The Circle of Spiritual Qualities Incorporating spiritual qualities into your routine is essential for long-term success. Think of it as building your spiritual fitness, a foundation that will support your performance both on and off the field.
Create a Circle of Eight: Visualize eight core spiritual qualities or "coins" you collect and practice each day. These could include patience, persistence, humility, courage, empathy, resilience, focus, and self-awareness. Just like collecting medals or achieving personal records, mastering these qualities will shape your future self.
Day-to-Day Routine of Refinement: Refine what you already know. It’s not about waiting for that one big moment or breakthrough but about showing up every day and sharpening your existing skills—spiritually, mentally, and physically.
At the heart of the athlete’s journey is the realization that you do need people—but not just those around you. The most significant relationship you’ll ever cultivate is with your future self. By creating a routine of daily spiritual practice and refinement, you enable yourself to meet that remarkable version of you, equipped with the strength and wisdom to conquer any challenge in your sport and life.
This guidebook is not about perfecting who you are today but about embracing the journey of becoming, day by day, coin by coin, until you meet the future self you’re building with intention and purpose.