Know Thyself

Have you ever come across a quote or passage that perfectly describes your character or perspective or modus operandi, some statement or set of statements whose spot-on application to your life and unique circumstances is all the more uncanny given how little you have in common with the source?

I was reading Business Week today and came across this quote from Pete Carroll, head football coach at USC, describing his "favorite mistake," which was accepting what would be a short-lived coaching position for the New England Patriots instead of a less challenging position with the St. Louis Rams:

"I thought I could handle anything... I felt like, Yeah, this'll be good... I'll win them over. My instincts--to a fault--are always to go to the high-pressure opportunity. I didn't really assess the situation clearly enough. I've learned to really weigh things and not be so driven by my gut. Sometimes it gets us in trouble, that feeling that you can handle anything. You have to dig deeply and not just be emotionally driven into a situation. Great competitors sometimes fall prey to their own drive to see what they can endure."

My friend Barbara recently asked her blog's readers whether and how they manage to get in the way of themselves. I'd have to say that Mr. Carroll's quote pretty much sums it up for me, especially the last sentence. I went into parenthood with that attitude, and more than any of the difficulties associated with a new baby (recovery from the birth, sleep deprivation, etc.), it's that attitude that's laid me low. If my life were a Hollywood movie, all of my struggles would be rewarded in the end with glory. The ends would justify the means. But life isn't a Hollywood movie, and people who engage in self-flagellation just end up with scars. Knowing yourself and your own vulnerabilities--even if that requires admitting that you aren't superhuman--is a good thing.