On January 1, 2016, Jaylon Smith, widely regarded as the #1 outside linebacker in college football and considered a top draft pick for the NFL, tore both his ACL and LCL – ligaments that attach the knee to the thigh bone. Even worse, there was significant nerve damage. Nerve damage that might be permanent.
Taring either the ACL or LCL is bad, but taring both, at the same time, while damaging the nerves that run from the knee to the thigh bone, well, most never recover from something like that.
But Jaylon Smith was different.
“I am a leader. I am the best outside linebacker in football. Nothing’s changed. I’ll be OK.”
The Dallas Cowboys drafted Smith in the 2016 draft, taking a huge gamble on a linebacker that might never play again.
Following a very complicated knee surgery, Smith underwent nearly a year of intensive rehab, while Dallas patiently stood by.
Fast forward – today, Smith is the leader of Dallas’s defense. He may be the best outside linebacker in the NFL.
Smith never doubted he would play football again. He never wavered in his belief in himself as the best outside linebacker in football. That was his identity. That’s what he saw when he looked in the mirror. And that belief in who he was, his identity, healed his ligaments and his nerves.
If I were to ask you who you see yourself to be, would you have an honest answer?
If you don’t have a clear vision of who you are, you have an identity crisis.
We all face adversity in life. But, adversity will break you if you don’t have a clear vision of who you are.
However, for those who look in the mirror and know exactly who they are, adversity will only make you stronger.
Those who succeed in life, overcome adversity because they have a clear vision of who they are. Their identity is their GPS, constantly moving them forward to the realization of their dreams and their goals.
About Thomas C. Corley
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