What do basketball and marriage have in common? Basketball is a team sport and so is marriage. Both basketball and marriage do not work well if there is a “ball hog.”
Work together; share the work load and the spotlight.
With basketball, some athletes have natural talent. With relationships, some people are good communicators. They naturally have an empathetic ear when they need to listen and they know how to get their point across without putting their spouse on the defense.
Basketball and marriage might not be your “go to” comparison. But actually, they have a lot in common. Some skills might be easy and feel organic while some skills will require hard work, commitment, practice, patience, and the motivation to succeed.
Basketball Skills and Marriage Skills
Dribbling, shooting, rebounding, passing, court awareness are all basketball skills that are essential to being a great player and helping your team win the championship. They are also skills that can be used in a healthy marriage.
Dribbling
In basketball you dribble to get the ball in your court. In marriage you “dribble” by talking, by being effective communicators. Communication is how you can “get the ball in your court.”
Shooting
In basketball sometimes you make the shot and score while other times you miss. When you miss, sometimes you are way off and sometimes you hit the rim. In marriage, sometimes you say the right thing and sometimes you mess up. Make sure you know how to apologize and repair if needed.
Rebounding
In basketball you are jumping to grab the missed shot. In marriage you are jumping to grab the opportunity for connection. Sometimes when you jump, you get the rebound and sometimes it is a missed opportunity.
Passing
In basketball, if you team mate is open, pass, share the ball then the other player shoots, scores and it helps the team. In marriage, the couple can “share the ball” with compromise. Compromise means that sometimes it is my way, sometimes it is your way and sometimes we find a totally different way that works.
Court Awareness
In basketball and marriage, court awareness means really paying attention to what is happening moment by moment. In marriage, check in with your spouse often. Ask curious questions that demonstrate you care and make sure you share the things that are going well along with the things that are not going well.
How do you become great at basketball? How do you and your spouse become a great couple with a healthy marriage that lasts the test of time? Both take practice, determination, commitment, hard work, patience, trusting the process and your team.
Michael Jordan, a Basketball Legend
Some powerful quotes said by Michael Jordan, “You miss 100% of the shots you never take.”
How does this quote relate to your life and your relationships?
“I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.”
Are you and your spouse putting in the work? Is your marriage a priority?
“Some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen, others make it happen.”
What kind of spouse are you? Are you only wanting it and wishing it or are you making it happen?
Kobe Bryant, a Basketball Legend
If you don’t believe in yourself, no one will do it for you.”
Do you believe in yourself?
“It is a constant quest to try to be better today then you were yesterday and better tomorrow then you were the day before.”
Do you and your spouse strive for greatness in your marriage or do you settle for mediocre? Do you bring the best you have to offer to the relationship or are you so exhausted from everything else (work, kids, friends) that your spouse gets the crumbs? Crumbs are definitely not enough to sustain a relationship for a couple that wants to last the test of time with a mutually fulfilling relationship.
“Mamba mentality is all about focusing on the process and trusting in the hard work when it matters most.”
Take that Mamba mentality and apply it to your marriage and see where focus and hard work takes you as a couple.
“Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses.”
Do you and your spouse put in “the work”? Do you spend time together? Do you prioritize the marriage?
Or…
Do you make excuses for lack of intimacy? Do you make excuses for lack of quality time with your spouse? I’ll ask again, do you prioritize the marriage?
How Can You Shoot the Ball and Score in Marriage?
Michael’s and Kobe’s quotes can definitely be geared to an athlete who wants to be a great basketball player or great at any sport. It can also relate to an individual or couple who wants to make sure that their life and relationships achieve a high level of greatness.
Are you looking for “Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant greatness” in your marriage? Then take that first step, contact me today.
As another basketball legend, Steven (Steph) Curry said, “Don’t sell yourself short. You are more capable than you think. Never stop dreaming and striving.”
I, as a Relationship Expert say, “The time is now. Make your relationship dreams a reality. Take your marriage from surviving to thriving.”
I Transform Relationships, one relationship at a time and if you are a couple in Florida, yours can be next.
Your Relationship Expert,
Michelle