Settle the Ball: From Chaotic Kicks to Strategic Play
"Settle the ball."
Brené Brown articulated it beautifully, and for my fellow soccer players (and even those who've just witnessed a kids' game), the imagery is instantly clear. Picture that chaotic scene: a swarm of tiny cleats kicking a ball with wild abandon, sending it soaring through the air, ricocheting from one player to another. It's a flurry of activity, a whirlwind of unpredictable movement. That's crisis.
And let's face it, the past few years have felt a lot like that chaotic kids' soccer game. The pandemic, political turmoil, and the relentless barrage of uncertainty – it's been a constant state of crisis. We've been in "fight or flight" mode, reacting, scrambling, sprinting through what we thought would be a short-lived sprint.
But here's the thing about crises: they do end. They have a defined finish line. You push through, adrenaline pumping, knowing the storm will eventually pass.
A year of quarantine, however, shifted the game. We realized this wasn't a sprint; it's a marathon. And you can't sprint a marathon. You burn out. You collapse. You lose the long game.
That's where "settling the ball" comes in.
Remember those kids, all elbows and knees, kicking that ball with reckless energy? As they gain experience, they learn a crucial skill: control. They learn to receive the ball, to bring it down to the ground, to settle it.
And then, they do something even more important. They lift their heads. They scan the field. They assess the situation. They develop a strategy. Where's the goal? Where are their teammates? How do they move forward with intention?
That's the shift we need to make. We can't keep reacting to every kick, every challenge, every unpredictable bounce. We need to learn to "settle the ball" in our own lives.
So, after these years of experience, after navigating the chaos, the uncertainty, the ever-shifting landscape, the question becomes: how are you going to settle the ball?
Are you going to keep running blindly, hoping to get to the goal by sheer force? Or are you going to take a breath, assess your situation, and develop a strategy?
What does "settling the ball" look like for you? Is it:
Taking a moment to prioritize your well-being?
Setting clear boundaries to protect your energy?
Developing a plan for your goals, both big and small?
Connecting with your "team" for support and collaboration?
The choice is yours. You can keep chasing the chaos, or you can take control, settle the ball, and play the game with intention.
What's your next move?
