The Search for Excellence
The quote from the ancient philosopher Seneca, ‘Excellence withers without an adversary,’ made me think.
In sports, excellence is generally judged on the outcome of competitive events. Popular opinion in sports is that the ultimate excellence is winning by beating your adversaries. As a coach, I have learned that excellence goes deeper than that. It is more complex than just beating your competition. There is an intrinsic relationship between excellence and challenge; as we will see, challenge can take many forms.
Seneca suggests that even the most excellent qualities and achievements can stagnate without challenge and lose their vitality. For Seneca, excellence is not merely a static state of being but a dynamic process of continuously striving for improvement. He refers to a continuous striving for personal improvement and moral growth in everyday life.
In sports, we tend to focus on ongoing performance improvement. ‘Adversary and adversity’ in life and sports can come in many external and internal forms. External forms include difficult circumstances, opposition from others, or moral dilemmas that force us to confront our values and beliefs. The adversary can also be an internal voice, expressing our perceived doubts, fears, and limitations. In this sense, excellence requires not only overcoming external challenges but also conquering our inner demons and striving for self-mastery. Recognising and addressing these internal challenges is crucial to the journey towards excellence. It’s a journey that we all share in one way or another.
Seneca’s assertion that excellence withers without an adversary is a powerful reminder that true excellence thrives in the presence of challenges. Challenges act as catalysts for growth, pushing individuals to step out of their comfort zones and reach new heights of success, be it in life or sports. When we're comfortable or content with our current state, there's little motivation to strive for improvement. Excellence, therefore, demands a certain level of discomfort - a willingness to embrace challenges and adversity rather than shy away from them or see them as a burden. It's in these moments of discomfort that we truly evolve and excel, transforming ourselves into better versions.
Overcoming adversity fosters resilience, the ability to bounce back from setbacks and failures. It strengthens our character, cultivates perseverance and hones the skills necessary for success. In the absence of adversity, these qualities remain underdeveloped, and excellence remains unrealised potential. We learn more from meeting adversity, our failures, and, in sports, our losses than from our successes. Building resilience includes reframing failure as a learning opportunity.
In light of this explanation, Seneca’s quote, ‘Excellence withers in the absence of an adversary, ' can be interpreted in several meaningful ways in sports.
1) Competition as a catalyst for excellence: In sports, athletes often face opponents who push them to perform at their best. The presence of strong competitors challenges athletes to improve their skills, strategies, and physical conditioning. Athletes may become complacent and fail to reach their full potential without worthy adversaries.
2) Overcoming adversity: Sports often present athletes with various forms of adversity, such as injuries, setbacks, and tough losses. These challenges test an athlete's resilience, determination, and mental toughness. Overcoming these adversities is often what separates good athletes from truly great ones.
3) Continuous improvement: Like in Seneca's philosophy, excellence in sports is not a static state but a continuous process of improvement. Athletes must constantly strive to improve their performance by refining their technique, enhancing their physical fitness, or sharpening their mental focus. Without external challenges, this drive for improvement is likely to diminish.
4) Mental toughness and character development: Adversity in sports tests not only an athlete's physical abilities but also their mental strength and character. Facing tough opponents and challenging situations builds resilience, perseverance, and a strong sense of sportsmanship, all essential for achieving excellence in sports. Losing can be seen as a learning opportunity. Feedback, rather than failure
5) The role of coaching and training: In sports, coaches often constructively play the role of adversaries. They provide athletes with challenges, feedback, and guidance to help them improve. A coach's role is not to make things easy for athletes but to challenge them to reach new levels of excellence.
Seneca's quote underscores the importance of challenges, competition, and adversity. These elements are not obstacles to be avoided but essential components of the journey to excellence. Athletes who embrace challenges, face adversity with resilience, and constantly seek to improve are the ones who truly embody the spirit of Seneca's philosophy.