To tell the story of football so far, one can’t fail to mention the incomparable Brazilian, Ricardo Kaka. Similarly, to tell the story of basketball so far, an exceptional talent like Stephen Curry cannot be left out.
Kaka is often referred to as one of the greatest players to ever grace the game.
He’s won every trophy there is, and his style, skill, flair & passion for the game is something that guarantees him a place in the football hall of fame.
Stephen Curry has revolutionised the way the game is played and won multiple championships & MVP’s. He has cemented himself as one of the all time greats and rightfully earned the title of the greatest shooter in basketball history.
But there is an obvious common factor, that exists outside of sports, that these two athletes both possessed, that might have played a significant role in their success.
After a closer look, it becomes clear that these are two very spiritual people.
They both view the world through a specific lens of their own, but also have a shared belief that perhaps allowed them to, despite the fame and power and success they’ve had, behave in a notably humble and admirable way.
When Steph Curry won his MVP the first person he thanked was God, even saying in another interview: “I can’t say enough, how important my faith is to how I play the game and who I am.”
Kaka has also expressed a similar sentiment multiple times and has also said: “If things happen it’s because God has prepared me. God has great things for us. If it’s God’s will that I be there, there I will be”.
They both notably stood out amongst their peers, Kaka was known to be a peacemaker on the pitch, often facing harsh tackles from opponents and even receiving verbal and physical abuse, but Kaka always responded with grace and a smile. Curry is a player who is known for the energy and joy he plays with. He is also known for being a great teammate, a humble family man and a great leader for the younger players to look up to.
These are just small examples of the larger theme of devotion to something beyond their own success that Kaka & Curry both portrayed constantly throughout their career.
But why does all of this matter? What can this tell us? Well, there’s a great concept that is at play in this narrative.
It’s easy to want our dreams to come true, and to live out the success, luxury and accomplishment of our biggest goals and desires. But it’s also very easy to abuse the power and access that comes along with that success you desire.
In fact, success essentially acts as an amplifier of every belief, behaviour, vice and indulgence you already have.
We’re quick to think of success and abundance as a top priority and desire, but perhaps what belongs above that priority and desire, is to become someone who can handle everything that comes along with that success in a way that doesn’t make us a worse version of who we already are.
If you desire to be successful, and success acts as an amplifier of your current behaviour, then your priority should be to try and assure your behaviour and lifestyle is rooted in something that is beyond just your own desire for pleasure, fame, money or power.
Whether consciously or not, this is what Kaka and Curry and in fact many athletes embody, they ground themselves in devotion to something beyond just their own fame and power and so when the success they desired finally came to fruition, they were already the type of person who could not only handle it gracefully but succeed at the highest level while not losing themselves to indulgence, vices & power along the way.
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Written by Ben Joshua
