As quickly as you can go 4-1, you can go 1-4. And the whole objective is not to get too high and not to get too low. It's one thing to tell somebody that and explain it, but it's another thing to really buy in, to have felt that and understand what it means to stay even-keel. That's what you have to be in this league.
Interpretation
Maintain balance and composure regardless of success or failure.
Sue Bird emphasizes the importance of emotional stability in competitive environments, highlighting that extremes in feelings—whether from winning or losing—can disrupt focus and performance. To truly thrive, one must internalize the concept of staying even-keeled and recognize that both triumphs and setbacks are part of the journey.
In practice
Sharing this quote during a sports team's motivational talk after a win or loss.
A lot of us players, if you were to ask them, feel like they have to play overseas. Why? 'Why not? Might as well do it while I can.' For a while, I felt that way - I've got to make the most money that I can. Now, do I feel like I could still play overseas? Absolutely. But I don't feel that pressure anymore.
All of the teams in this league that have won multiple championships, they didn't come out the gate winning. Sometimes you have to take those hits to understand what it takes to win.
Homophobia hurts our league. Racism hurts it. Sexism hurts it.
Perhaps there is only one cardinal sin: impatience. Because of impatience we were driven out of Paradise, because of impatience we cannot return.
Nothing is more disgraceful than that an old man should have nothing to show to prove that he has lived long, except his years.
Without cunning, there is no innovation. Without ambition, there is no accomplishment.
If uncertainty is unacceptable to you, it turns into fear. If it is perfectly acceptable, it turns into increased aliveness, alertness, and creativity.
To know is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.
Sometimes river flows very strong, sometimes it flows very small, but it makes no difference to the ocean because it is satisfied in itself with its own quantity of water. Similarly, when our heart is cleansed with spirituality, we find pleasure and ecstasy with our own selves that is so sweet, so wonderful and so satisfying, that the so-called pleasures of this world no longer have any values, no appeal at all.
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