#25 "Clear Eyes, Full Heart, Can't Lose"

Those words were said by the high school football team before each game in the recently ended "Friday Night Lights" television series.  It was one of  the best TV series of all times and lasted for five years.  If you have never seen it, it was not just about football, but so much more -- it was about life -- the ups and downs, good and bad, redemption and everything in between.  I highly recommend it!

Coach Taylor would shout the words, "Clear Eyes, Full Heart", then the team would follow up by shouting back, "Can't Lose".  It was a way of pumping the players up, getting everyone focused and uniting them as a team.  But why those words?

Here is what I took those words to mean --

Clear eyes -- This is the intellectual piece -- Players know the calls, they know their positions and what is expected of them; they know their opponent and  their teammates; they are prepared for  inclement weather and other factors outside of their control-- they have the knowledge to play a good game. 

Open heart -- This is the emotional piece -- Players are willing to put themselves into every play -- they care, they risk injury -- their desires, integrity and character, everything that they have is on the line.  They play with courage.  (The word "courage" comes from the Old French word coeur meaning heart so "courage" is the measure of their heartfelt participation in the game.) 

Can't lose -- if you show up and put everything that you are and have into an endeavor, you cannot lose in life.  The coach would say, "Gentlemen, we may not win tonight, but you are all winners just by being here and playing".   Giving their all and caring made them winners, whether they won or not.  Sometimes you just need to show up in life.

Isn't that so true?  Just showing up and being you is enough.  Can we ask any more of people than to be fully present -- with their talents, integrity and heart, willing to let themselves be seen -- whether they win the battle or skirmish, but being courageous enough to not allow anyone make them feel small?    There is so much incentive these days to feel small so someone else can feel big.  When we play small, we give up ourselves and our own personal power.

It is time that we show up at work or in life with "Clear eyes, full heart" and we absolutely "can't lose".  It is sometimes a bit scary at first, but you will find that it feels really good!!