The Seattle Seahawks are playing in the upcoming Super Bowl for only the second time in their 38 year history. What makes this team different from the 36 other teams that never made it?
I suspect it has something to do with the mental attitude fostered by Coach Pete Carroll and General Manager John Schneider. These two have nurtured team qualities of thought that have contributed to their success. According to recent health reports, these same spiritual characteristics are also health promotive. As a Seahawks fan and health writer, I’ve listed six below that I’ve observed to be a good basis for healthy living.
Remember to smile, laugh and have fun
Seattle Seahawk Coach Pete Carroll is fun, enthusiastic and positive. A recent NFL Nation survey found Carroll is the overwhelming favorite NFL coach that players want to play for. His infectious attitude has also contributed to igniting one of the largest and certainly the loudest fan base in the NFL.
Be confident and expectant of good
The Seahawks are not a fearful group, they’re confident and expect to win. They seem to see success as natural and normal. Even when they run into a setback, which isn’t often, they remain buoyant and resilient.
Be grateful
In press conferences and TV interviews, this team never stops being grateful. They thank their fans, their teammates, their coaches and for the opportunity to play.
Be tolerant
Some may feel Richard Sherman talks too much and Marshawn Lynch too little, but the Seahawks seem to nurture everyone to be themselves.
Care for others
The Seahawks don’t play for short term gain that may put their players in jeopardy. Despite the significant expense to acquire outstanding wide receiver Percy Harvin, the team have been conscientious in not playing him unless he was 100%. Carroll is quick to correct player mistakes, but he does so outside the public eye. He turns mistakes into teachable moments. Even opposing Super Bowl QB Payton Manning praises Coach Carroll for how well he once treated him.
Don’t be misdiagnosed
Being misdiagnosed is a problem in health care and football too. When it comes to assessing athletes, Carroll and Schneider defy conventional wisdom. When other teams have responded to negative reports based on empirical measurements, the Hawks have looked deeper into the subjective nature of each player to see what others have missed.
Take Seattle’s Derrick Coleman, the first deaf offensive player in the NFL. Or quarterback Russell Wilson, considered too short and passed over until the sixth round of the draft. Yet, Wilson has amassed more victories in his first two seasons than any quarterback in NFL history. Not to mention leading his team to this year’s Super Bowl!
If you find yourself being given a limited assessment of your well-being or value, I hope the the tips above are helpful. They have been for me. Join Seahawks players who refused to accept how they were once perceived and persevered to the Super Bowl! #GoHawks!
Bill Scott is a health writer who serves as the media and government liaison for Christian Science in Washington State.
