Russel Wilson: Surrender Yourself to a Higher Cause, It's Bigger Than Football

Brad Fox | January 28, 2015
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Russell Wilson may have a degree of hindsight bias after his teams improbable win in the NFC championship game, but there is actually a good chance he literally thought they would win the whole time. 

Speaking about his psychological state of mind, Wilson describes how he visualizes a reset button to forget about what has happened to help him focus on what he can still do next. A sports article that goes well beyond sports in The Players Tribune is a must read. 

He goes on to say in the article: 

"Coming off a Super Bowl win like we did, it’s easy to go into training camp saying, 'These are my brothers.' When you’re winning, it’s all easy. But those bonds are never truly tested until you’re faced with adversity. . . In truth, it pushed us closer than ever." - TPT

Hate them or love them, the Seattle Seahawks' reliance on one another, their drive, grit, and perseverance are something that young people can look up to. It can teach them about the doubts that can poisonously fill our minds and affect how we see ourselves and our goals. 

Wilson speaks about his faith and says his pastor Judah Smith has helped him think about surrendering himself to a higher cause. 

"There’s a Bible verse that is very close to my heart. John 3:30. “He must increase, I must decrease.” That defines this year for me. In my life personally, I’ve noticed that people tend to put you on a pedestal when things are going well. It’s easy to hit the reset button when things are going bad. But will you be able to hit the reset button when things are going well? That’s a challenge that’s bigger than football." - TPT

Pete Carroll's coaching mentality is also something people of all ages can gleam something from, especially those in leadership positions that have influence over other's lives. 

"Carroll was considered a failure in his previous two NFL stops. The Jets fired him after one season (1994) and the Patriots pink-slipped him after three (1997-99). He was a nice guy with a reputation for being too enthusiastic, too friendly, too positive. He was viewed as someone better suited for the rah-rah world of college". . . MMQB SI

Carroll himself has been on a similar journey as his team. The way he fostered a family style atmosphere and used "positive coaching" seems to be working. He has turned some less than top draft picks into formidable players. 

Carroll is most likely excited to play against the organization that didn't like his style of coaching:

 "'They already killed me once—they got me in New York and they got me in Boston—so I’m going to be me. They can’t hurt me now.’ For Pete that was a very humble way of saying, ‘I’ve been through a lot, and if I go to Seattle I’m going to do it the way that I’ve laid it out, exactly to my personality and to my philosophical approach.’ ” SI

An approach that "maximizes the uniqueness of each player and coach, Pete focuses more on forgiveness rather than scorn, and nurturing a dependable, caring team atmosphere. 

Richard Sherman may be "outspoken and passionate," but these two leaders in the Seahawks franchise demonstrate positive lessons for conducting our own lives. Carroll and Wilson have both been severely doubted and failed in the past, but that obviously didn't stop them. 

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