The seventh element of Coach Wooden's seven-point creed is, "Thank you for your blessings and pray for guidance each day." When Coach spoke on this point, he frequently recited one of his favorite quotes from Abraham Lincoln: “If we magnify our blessings as we magnify our disappointments, we would all be much happier.” Indeed, accepting disappointment without complaining is one of the key points Coach teaches about recognition.
Related:How to handle adversity: don't cry, don't complain, don't apologize. The manager learned early on to accept disappointments with good grace thanks to the example set by his parents. Although his father, Joshua Wooden, lost his farm to someone else's mistake, he never complained or blamed. Joshua's ability to make the most of an adverse situation was one of the traits Coach came to admire most in his father. The coach also saw the same quality in his mother Roxie, after she suffered the deaths of her two daughters within a year of each other. Her first daughter, Cordelia, died of diphtheria aged 2, and her second daughter died at birth. Despite these tragedies, Coach never heard his mother complain, nor see her feel sorry for herself as she raised four eager boys. “The great secret of life is to cultivate the ability to appreciate the things we have. At times, Coach emphasized the importance of being grateful by quoting Lao Tse: “Freedom of desire leads to inner peace.” He also added his own words of wisdom: “The great secret of life is to cultivate the ability to appreciate the things we have, not to compare them.” Coach has often encouraged us not to take for granted the many things we have that we have done nothing to gain for, such as life itself, the beauty of nature, the great country we live in, or the love from our family and friends. The second part of this advice, to pray for guidance, were also words that Coach took to heart. His own faith was very dear to him and he respected everyone's religions because he knew that faith was an important part of living a worthwhile life. He encouraged his players to have faith and be able to stand up for their beliefs, but he never encouraged them to pray to win. It would be far too selfish, he said.
Related:How John Wooden Led His Teams to a Victorious Life In 1942, the coach received a faithful assist pen from Frank E. Davidson, who ran an interdenominational men's club called The Forum. The men would go to Sunday school time to study and pray together, then leave to worship in their own churches. The night before receiving the award, the coach's team won the sectional tournament final against a Catholic team whose coach, Johnny Howe, also attended the Forum. The next morning Frank Davidson joked: 'I was there at the game last night and here was Johnny Wooden, who I knew was going to get his medal for not missing last year - and there was Johnny Howe with his team. bless yourself. Now, was not our Lord in a sacred place? Contentment makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor. As he loved to do, Coach shared great wisdom with us to remind us to give thanks for our blessings and pray for guidance each day: Contentment makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.
Take the time to live, that's the secret of success.
Take the time to reflect, it is the source of power.
Take the time to play, it's the secret of youth.
Take the time to read, it is the foundation of knowledge.
Take the time for friendship, it is the source of happiness.
Take the time to laugh, it helps lift the load of life.
Take the time to dream, it attaches the soul to the stars.
Make time for God, it's life's only lasting investment.
When asked if he lived up to his father's seven-point creed, he would often say, "I'm not what I want to be, or what I should be, or what I'm going to be. , but I am grateful that I am no longer what I was. No matter how daunting the task of living your belief, chasing your dreams, or achieving your goals may seem, the key is that you must never stop trying. Because each new day brings progress, and by doing your best, you succeed.
Related:John Wooden's 7-Point Creed: "Be True to Yourself" By studying Coach's teachings, you can discover how going back to basics could make a difference in your ability to succeed. Sign up for the free three-part video course, Framework of Success. Craig Impelman + posts As Coach Wooden's grandson, Craig Impelman had the opportunity to learn Coach Wooden's teachings firsthand and wrote about those lessons for his website, www.woodenswisdom.com. He is a motivational speaker and the author of Wooden's Wisdom, a weekly "e-coaching module" that is distributed to businesses nationwide. Craig Impelman 
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