We’re mid-Euros so I’m mentioning football, but the learning is MUCH bigger than that…
England at the Euros! Big question: how are you feeling?
At the time of typing these words, England’s ‘anti-football’ approach is creating a state of national anxiety.
The main gripe is with Southgate’s ‘backwards, sideways, backwards’ style of play. Despite having objectively one of the best attacking teams ON THE ENTIRE PLANET, Gareth prefers to have all 11 of his players guarding the goal to prevent the other team from scoring. His attack dogs are leashed and muzzled, lest they do any damage to the opposition.
Please note, this is not a personal attack on Gareth Southgate. Lovely bloke, decent family man, good values, very probably gives money to the Big Issue seller. And, to be fair, as my fingers hit these keys, [somehow] England are still in the Euros.
My point is that this muzzling of the team’s strengths makes perfect sense to Gareth, but to the rest of us it appears to be football that is played out of fear, rather than out of purpose.
I want to use Gareth’s team tactics as a life lessons that we can all UN-learn. His ultra-cautious approach is mirrored in everyday life. I see too many people paralysed by the fear of making a mistake. We spend our days fearing the worst, and expending all of our efforts to make sure that ‘bad thing’ (whatever it may be) doesn’t happen.
A lot of us have a metaphorical Kane, Bellingham and Foden of skills, but choose to muzzle ourselves. It’s easier to have a sideways, backwards, sideways approach to life – to play it safe, to avoid screwing up – rather than going all out for a winning life.
I’m not calling for you to go gung-ho. Playing safe is all well and good, but there are times when you have to back yourself and unleash your inner Foden.
Your best life is a life of no regrets. When your Game of Life’s up, and the bloke in the sky holds up your number, you’re gonna trot off the pitch with the warm applause of the crowd. You’ll have eternity to reflect. Did you attack the space that was in front of you, or did you play so safe that the game kind of passed you by? Being your best self means moving with purpose into the avenues of life, you might be offside, but you won’t know unless you run.
Thanks for the lessons Gareth. I wish you all the best for the quarters, semis and final. For goodness’ sake mate, lose the fear, unleash the beasts and live a tournament of NO REGRETS!