Finding, Connecting, and Reconnecting to Your Why: How staying connected to the reasons that drive your passion for your sport can help you keep going through ups and downs, injury, and distractions in life

Do you remember the moment when you realized that you wanted your sport to be the main focal point in your life? Do you remember why? Do you know what your Why is? Is your Why the pure joy and happiness that your sport gives you? Is your Why the connection you feel with your team or others in your sport’s community? Is your Why the feeling of empowerment you get when pushing through the mental and physical barriers when you wanted to give up? Is your Why your routine, your accomplishments, the lifestyle that your sport has given you? Is your Why the rush of endorphins that you feel when pushing yourself to your limit and reaching a goal? Is your Why the grind? Whatever your Why is, reminding yourself of what your Why is and reconnecting with your Why may help you to find your next gear or the resilience and grit that you need to keep going during highs, lows, injuries, and when facing distractions in life, positive or negative.

For me, my Why has been the immense feelings of joy and happiness that I get when playing soccer, dribbling or juggling the soccer ball, scoring a goal, making a perfect pass that leads to an assist, building relationships with other players who also love soccer, and even watching my favorite team or favorite professional players play. When I feel a lack of zest for the game that I love, I often need to remind myself of my Why and about all of the incredible moments that soccer has given me, the people I have met and relationships that it has created in my life, and the opportunities it has given me. I also try to reconnect on a deeper level with the feelings of nostalgia that my favorite soccer memories can create, the times when I felt feelings of pride, power and strength, and accomplishment and this can rekindle the flame of passion that I have for soccer. Two questions that I like to ask myself are; What might my life have been like in the past and be like now without soccer? How would I feel if my life was void of the sport that I love so much? The thought of soccer being completely absent from my life makes me realize how much it is part of my identity.

Yes, I know it has been a part of my identity since I was 5 years old, but up until my late high school years, into my college soccer days, and especially after my college playing days were over, I didn’t truly grasp how much of my identity is soccer. How can someone’s identity be a sport? It is so much more than a sport. I can imagine that you know exactly what I am talking about if you’re reading this and have dedicated much of your life to playing your sport at a high level. It has been an incredible challenge for me adjusting to life that didn’t completely revolve around soccer 24/7 and having to find a new professional and career identity, but I have always reminded myself of my Why; why I have kept playing and have mindfully reconnected to parts of soccer that bring me feelings of nostalgia and the other positive feelings.

It hasn’t always been easy, especially through relationship struggles, personal struggles, struggles with addiction, injuries, and two major leg surgeries, but remembering what my Why is has given me strength and helped me to stay connected to the passion and joy that I have for the game that is part of who I am at my core. My sport has given me purpose, strength, enriched my life, and has even played a role in saving my life. Even when my playing days are completely over, I will continue to tap into my Why and find ways to stay connected to soccer, the positive feelings, memories, and nostalgia that it gives me.

I encourage you to consider your Why, connect with and process it, and reconnect with it when you encounter those times when you are struggling, even if you can’t participate in your sport at the same level that you once had, and find ways to stay connected to it. I imagine that your Why for your sport has played an important part in shaping the person that you are today. On another note, you may reach a point in your life that you recognize that your sport has served you well for many years, but it’s okay to let go of it as part of your past and relish the best memories that your sport has given to you. The years that you have invested in your sport, the successes and challenges, will always be part of who you are, but you can use what you have learned from your sport and apply those skills to the next chapters of your life. If you are not ready to leave your sport in the past, connect with your Why and keep pushing. If you are ready to leave your sport and pursue other passions, find your Why for those, too. Discovering, connecting and reconnecting with your Why for new passions might also help you find purpose, success, and propel you to greater heights. Find your Why.