Athletes workout to prepare to perform. Preparation builds muscle and muscle = armor.
The next time you watch an NFL game observe the speed, size, and strength of the players. Because they are ALL massive it’s easy to overlook how incredibly gargantuan they actually are, yet as you compare them to reporters or to some coaches on the sidelines you’ll see the difference!
Now imagine these heavily-muscled men colliding into each other at 20 mph! The extra pounds of muscle surrounding their joints, tendons, and organs provide the protection required to play the game. Even so, unfortunately at times they still become injured yet the frequency and seriousness of injuries is lessened than what it otherwise would be because of their preparation. Just as NFL players’ muscles protect them from the next tackle, block, or rush, so too your muscles can protect you from injury in everyday life and to excel at your craft.
Known for his thorough preparation, UCLA Coach John Wooden observed, “The pressure I created during practices may have exceeded that which oponents produced. I believe when an individual constantly works under pressure, he or she will respond automatically when faced with it during competition.”1
This principle applies to intellect as well.
At the high school I attended there were two AP English teachers, one demanding and the other lax. One of my good friends had the teacher who made him work. All year long he read, wrote, explained, and debated. Not only was he very prepared for the AP test at year’s end but also for freshman year of college.
Pro Tip:
Practice harder than your performance requires and you will be pleased with the outcome
Stress your muscles in workouts to more than what they’ll experience in every day life.
Challenge your brain more than it will see at home, school, work, church and you’ll shine in those arenas.
1. Wooden, J., & Jamison, S. (1997). The Gym Is A Classroom . In Wooden (pp. 133). Contemporary Books.
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