Life is a Game Played Between the Ears

At the end of a recent work adventure to Orlando we had a plane to catch. We’d been hearing some horror stories of the lines at the airport due to weather delays and Spring Break madness so we decided to go in prepared and head to the airport early. We had a short eight mile drive on the Expressway to get to the airport; a quick 15 minute drive on a typical day. It was a beautiful sunny day and within two miles of our comfortable commute we were stopped in our tracks. All four lanes were at a standstill.

There had been an accident earlier that day our driver had heard about, but it was supposed to be cleaned up by now. From where we were stopped we couldn’t tell what the holdup was, we just knew we weren’t going anywhere for a while.

Thankfully our driver was a delightful man, one I would definitely classify as grounded. Rather than get caught up in the chaos of the traffic jam, he engaged in conversation with us. He is a big Pro Golf fan, and was sharing his insight on the Masters. When talking about a missed putt, he made reference to something I will never forget. He said, “You know they say the longest distance for a golfer is often the six inches between the ears.”

And he was absolutely right. In the game of golf, it’s such a fitting phrase. But the reality is, in any sport, in any line of work, in life in general it’s such a fitting phrase.

Like I said, we had been stuck in traffic for an hour. The eight mile drive to the airport resulted in a four lane highway standstill and an hour long commute. And many people around us were doing as people often do. They were freaking out not willing to accept the holdup we were in. Some went to the extreme of getting out of their cabs and hopping the interstate. The most puzzling being the two that left with their luggage. Where to? I’ll never know.

Was there worry in our vehicle? Oh absolutely. People had flights to catch. But thankfully, we had prepared. We went into it thinking the holdup would be at the airport so we added time to our schedule, only to find the holdup came in a different way for us.

As we passed the accident that had the four-lane Expressway held up and re-routing on the shoulder to get through, we saw what we had come to expect. We were the lucky ones in this delay; fortunate to at least be able to continue our commute, even if it was an hour behind schedule.

I share this story for a reason. With Spring often comes the “let’s kick it in gear” motivation to train our bodies with the proper exercise and nutrition in preparation for Summer. Diet and exercise are essential, no question about it. But during your process to better your health, my request to you is this: Remember to also incorporate a healthy mindset. Train your mind to see the calm in the chaos; to see things in a different light.

When you think about it, life really is a game played between the ears. Pay close attention to what your playing field looks like. It’s all about your mindset. Remind yourself that you are beautiful, strong, and oh so worthy of whatever it is you want in this life. Tell yourself you can and you will. Tell yourself you can’t, and you won’t. Train your mind to see yourself and the world in that loving light and you will be amazed by just how powerful your mindset really is.

I hope you find a lesson in this message friends. Remind yourself that sometimes you need to slow down before you speed up. And in your hustle and bustle through life always remember to count your blessings. But more importantly, seek to find lessons in your own adventures. Open your mind to see perspectives that can help enhance your own.

God Bless.