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The teenage years are pivotal in our personal development.
Most of us can look back and barely recognize our younger selves.
Or...
If you’re a teenager right now.
The incredible journey is about to begin.
Sport has taken me around the world.
Played in Madison Square Garden.
Danced in Kazakhstan at 4 am.
Made a home in the middle of America.
We never know where life is leading us.
Here are the 5 lessons I'd tell my teenage self.
1. You can't do it alone
I was always self-centered about my own dreams growing up.
This led to me being isolated and alone at times.
This will only get you so far.
My biggest growth always occurred when I was surrounded by uplifting, supportive people.
Coaches.
Friends.
At TSS (The Southport School) Brodie Munson woke me up at 6 am every day to sneak down to the courts and get ball handling in.
In Adelaide, Joey Wright texted me at 8 pm to come to a random gym and workout.
Fab challenged me by getting to the gym every day.
Individually we only have so much motivation and consistency.
But a tribe of people can pull us when we've fallen down.
2. You are your daily habits
It doesn’t matter what or who you think you are.
The only thing that matters is your actions.
Each and every day we vote for the person we want to become with our actions.
+1 in discipline by waking up early.
+1 in kindness by helping out a friend.
These small daily habits don’t need to be huge drastic events.
But the accumulation effect of 1000s of days will lead you to exactly where you are meant to be.
Not just in basketball.
In life.
3. Kindness and compassion are everything
Damn Jack, you wonder why you don’t like yourself.
It's because you walk around judging everyone you see.
You'll never understand their individual journey.
The same as they will never understand yours.
Carl Jung said it best. (A psychiatrist I really enjoy)
"Thinking is difficult, that’s why most people judge."
Be kind and compassionate with thoughts and actions.
You can't imagine the return it gives you.
Kindness will set you free.
You'll learn to love yourself.
4. Stop comparing your journey to others
Every day I'd look up the ESPN top 100 players.
Every day I'd get mad about the players on the list.
These unhealthy habits create a strong sense of dissatisfaction in your life.
Focus on yourself and your loved ones.
Become the best version of yourself by understanding how special and unique your own journey is.
Compete with who you were yesterday.
That’s all that matters.
"Comparison is the thief of joy." Theodore Roosevelt
5. You are exactly where you are meant to be
Life can feel extremely overwhelming.
Finding yourself on the bench at college frustrated at the world.
Alone in Adelaide.
Mad at yourself.
Angry at everyone around.
These moments are the most valuable in your life.
Heartbreak teaches you the power of love.
Failure helps you learn.
I know you don't believe in it right now.
But the universe may be guiding you. (Yes, you even become spiritual.)
Especially if your intent is pure.
Trust in it.
Trust in yourself.
Build up others.
Daily habits = Results
Kindness
Compare yourself to yourself
Trust