Reflection
“If we are the stories we tell ourselves, we better choose them well.”
No more valid words have ever been spoken.
We truly are the stories we tell ourselves.
Victors
For the most part, we tell our stories from a victor or a victim’s point of view.
Victors see the good in the world.
Victims see the bad.
Question
So what does this have to do with the fantastic season my Cincinnati Bengals are having?
I’m glad you asked.
Three years ago, my beloved Bengals brought in a new head coach, Zac Taylor.
From day one, I liked what I heard from Zac.
The stories he told us came from the perspective of a victor.
Two years into his tenure, fans were not seeing what he spoke. Instead, some fans began to play old tapes (stories) in their heads, stories like, “We are the Bungals and we will always be the Bungals.”
I liked him and believed his story, so I stuck with him. I know from my business career that an organization’s culture does not change overnight. It takes time, patience, and a clear vision.
And then…
suddenly, the dam broke.
The Bengals began to find ways to win games instead of finding ways to lose them.
We no longer beat ourselves because of poor execution and stupid penalties. If our opponents were going to beat us, they would have to do it with no help from us.
Most importantly, throughout this entire season, every time I heard one of the Bengal players being interviewed by the news media they shared very similar stories–stories from a victor/champion’s point of view.
Summary
There are several reasons why my Bengals will be playing in Super Bowl LVI in just over a week but none more impactful than the fact that the Bengals changed the story they were telling themselves.
The moral to this story is if you want to change your life for the better, begin by telling yourself better stories.
Stories where you are the victor and not the victim.
1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
