The world cup and mental health?
Yes, I'm going there. Soccer lends itself so easily to what is the most important characteristic for good mental health.
I'm a lifelong soccer player, AND I understand why people think it's boring.
Kick the ball. Chase the ball. Roll on the ground clutching your ankle like you've been tramped by an elephant in golf shoes.
If you watch soccer expecting highlight moves every 6 seconds and a tidal wave of scoring, you will be disappointed. Kind of like life.
The game becomes more fascinating and enjoyable when you appreciate what the players are doing. Again, kind of like life.
APPRECIATION: the most important characteristic for good mental health.
Feet are the body part we use the most and think about the least.
A soccer player's ultimate weapon is their feet.
Accurately kicking a ball 30 to 40 yards is routine. That's farther than most people can throw a ball regardless of how close they get to the target. If an NFL quarterback accurately completes a 40-yard pass, we put him on cereal boxes.
Soccer players can kick the ball 50 to 60 miles an hour, as fast as you drive your car. Believe me when I tell you taking a soccer ball off the thigh at 50 MPH leaves a bruise.
They are dribbling through traffic with their feet, kind of like an NBA point guard, if the point guard couldn't use their hands.
But they never score!!! 90 minutes and maybe a goal.
In most areas of life, we appreciate something more when we have less of it.
When you think about it that way, 1-0 doesn't look so bad after all.
I don't expect you to pick a favorite team and paint a flag on your face. Truth is, you don't have to like something to appreciate it. But if you want to understand what the rest of the world loves about soccer, appreciation is a good place to start.
Kind of like life.
for information on individual therapy, contact me at bradleyjabel@gmail.com
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