A Tale of Two Trees
Back in 2022, the NCAA deployed a large-scale research study on coaches, specifically “coach well-being.”
Over 6,000 coaches participated in the study and the findings were alarming.
40% of coaches expressed they felt “mentally exhausted” consistently/most everyday.
1 in 3 said they felt “overwhelmed” consistently/most everyday.
More than 50% said “work-related issues negatively affected their mental health.”
Consider for a moment how much harder the vocation has gotten for coaches SINCE 2022 when this research was deployed. The vocation of coach & leader is not for the faint of heart.
Last week I spent some time with coaches at an NCAA basketball program discussing this reality within their profession.
Is this vocation just destined for burnout/languishing?
Is languishing just the eventual way of all high performers?
Are we doomed? Or is there an alternative path?
Contrasts & Spectrums
I can’t help but think that much of life is full of contrasts and spectrums. It’s not necessarily about “black and white” thinking, but more so the full range of colors in between:
Flourishing vs Languishing
Chaos vs Order
Purpose vs Drift
Grounded vs Overwhelmed
Narrow Gate vs Broad Gate
Thriving vs Surviving
High Performance vs Burnout
Stress vs Rest
There’s a world in between these contrasts. Most central to them all - being able to define specifically for yourself what each looks like for you - in vivid detail.
What does it look like when you are truly flourishing? Truly at your best? And what does it look like when you are languishing, stuck and failing to make progress?
What components make up the difference? We often like to think it’s our circumstances, when in reality it has far more to do with our inner life.
He Does Not Fear When The Heat Comes
2,600 years ago, a leadership advisor spoke to leaders of the tribe of Judah. Jeremiah had a history of trying to nudge these leaders into better decisions. They had a pattern of getting into bad alliances, political instability, putting their hopes/dreams on a person, and fretting about uncertainty in the future.
In the midst of the back and forth with leaders he dropped this on them:
What do we see about the two contrasts?
The languishing tree:
“Thinks he can make it on muscle alone”
Jeremiah seems to be warning - don’t be a lone wolf! Let someone in on your struggles. Do not try to life/leadership on your own.
“They won’t see prosperity..”
I used to think this meant that prosperity would “miss” them. Like it would be withheld from them. But a closer look indicates they still have prosperity, they just don’t recognize it. It is possible to be in such disarray that when blessings come - we don’t even recognize it. Opportunities you wanted so badly, experiences you once hoped for, happening right in front of your eyes and all you can see is what you don’t have - because you trust only in yourself.
The flourishing tree:
Extends and spreads its roots.
This is to say the tree has a role in its own flourishing. It is not passive. What does it look like to truly extend your roots into living water? Not merely “healthy habits” here and there - but a deep soul quenching, deepening of roots.
It does not fear when the heat comes.
We’re not promised exemption from the heat or environmental & vocational stress. It is part of the deal. But our relationship with it can be different.
It is possible to live with no worries in a year of drought. True confidence, not easily bothered.
The flourishing tree doesn’t flourish because its circumstances are better. It flourishes because its roots are different.
Two trees. Same heat. Different roots. Different outcomes.
Which tree represents your inner life right now?
Stay The Course,
