Be Like Mike

“I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

- Michael Jordan

Yesterday I spent most of the day on the couch thanks to a nasty stomach bug and rewatched The Last Dance on Netflix. I haven’t watched the series since it came out back in 2020 and I forgot how much I enjoyed reliving those great Bulls teams from my youth. I don’t care what anyone says, the game was better back in the day and Kobe Bryant is the only person on Michael’s level.

In one of the series' final episodes, I caught an unexpected comment that I had to double back and listen to a second time. One of the Bulls' trainers talked about how Michael had the unique ability to remain present and in the moment at all times–after he said that I remembered multiple times Michael made comments to teammates or reporters just to enjoy the moment or be present. As he explained Michael’s ability to stay in the moment, he said, “People live in fear because they project the past into the future.”

Not only will the traumas from your past keep you in fear, but if you continue to project them into the future, the Law Of Attraction will continue to bring those fears to your reality. You’ll never escape them and you will continue to live those fears.

You may never rise to the level of Michael Jordan as a basketball player but you can emulate his ability to stay present and not allow the past to impact your future. The Bulls’ trainer also shared how Michael said, “Why would I worry about missing a shot I haven’t taken yet?”?

If 9000 misses weren’t influencing Michael’s confidence in his next shot going in, what are you projecting from your past, or even just an idea, to your future and keeping you afraid of pursuing your authentic life?

If you’re old enough you probably remember the Gatorade commercials encouraging us to be Like Mike—well, the ability to remain present and avoid allowing your past to dictate your future is another way to be like Mike.

See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,

JC

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