Life is, in fact, about our passionate pursuits–the activities that most engage us. Might the “life is bigger than…” line be a way of sugar coating the reality and emotional impact of poor results despite our hard work and best efforts? If our attitude is always that “it’s just a game,” it seems a slippery slope to conclude that “it’s only a job,” or “it’s just a house,” or “it’s just a marriage.”
Of course, our health and wellness and that of our loved ones always comes first; no argument there. But beyond that, who is to say that sport or any other endeavor to which we devote ourselves is “just a game” or “just a race” or “just a presentation.” One bad day or one bad game may not comprise a crisis or tragedy, but our overall experiences are absolutely the substance of our lives, and their outcomes definitely matter. These outcomes become the stuff of our lives, and trying to convince ourselves that they don’t have worth can be as problematic as overreacting to a single negative event as though it were a tragedy.
The point is this: know what is important to you, know what you’re putting into your sport or your job or your relationships, and be sure that you are prioritizing appropriately. When things go well, how great is that? But when they don’t, let’s not pretend that life is bigger and that our losses don’t matter; life IS comprised of these events and outlets, and finding a balance is vital. Live it, love it, and enjoy the successes, but take time also to appreciate and process the downside in order to find meaning and grow with the challenge of loss. It’s okay to mourn bad sport outcomes, just as it’s acceptable to lament other endeavors gone awry. Learn from the experiences, the feelings, the losses, and move on with whatever it is that matters to you and warrants your focus moving forward. Onward you’ll go.
