Humiliation Ritual

Two nights ago, many of us witnessed a humiliation ritual known as the World Cup. Team USA was publicly and brutally embarrassed by Belgium on the world's grandest stage. For the rest of their lives, those players will forever be associated with the frustrating and unforgettable events that unfolded that night.

They aren't alone, though. For the past few weeks, hundreds of players representing their countries have subjected themselves to a similar humiliation ritual on equally grand stages. The World Cup isn't for the weak of heart. It brings the greatest joys and the darkest lows.

Why would players put themselves in those positions? The "greatest joys" part! The only way to attain the grandest of achievements is by risking failure. As I love to say, failure is the admission price to success. Almost nobody who wins the trophy has done so without first being subjected to soul-crushing humiliation. It comes with the gig.

Despite that, most of us non-footballers will spend our entire lives trying to avoid failure at all costs. Why? Because failure sucks. It's easier to live a life without risking failure than to put ourselves out there and ultimately be subjected to that twisted ritual.

If failure and embarrassment are terrible things and we ought to avoid them at all costs, why do soccer players spend their entire lives trying to make a team that will likely cause much pain and suffering? Because the pursuit of meaning MUST involve the risk of failure. It's a prerequisite.

Last time I checked, none of us will get out alive. Therefore, let's live. Be uncomfortable. Pursue failure. Stretch in ways that will most certainly result in some form of pain or embarrassment. It never feels good in the moment, but one day, we'll be talking about how it was all worth it.

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