Coach Eric Taylor always knew how to motivate people and say exactly what they needed to hear. He changed lives and he proved that it's always darkest before the dawn, or as he puts it, "it always looks bad before it gets better." Even though "Friday Night Lights" hasn't graced our TVs since 2011, his words of wisdom still ring true. Midterms are one week away, which means we all need some motivation right about now, and I know just the high school football coach to turn to.
1. “I’m a firm believer in you can do anything you put your mind to”
You can have whatever you want, as long as you put your mind to it. Do everything you can to get exactly what you want out of life. Dreams won't work unless you do, so get going!
2. “Can you do me a favor? Do the best you can."
All anyone can ever ask of you is to do your best, and the only way you can fail is if you put minimal effort into what you want. Aim to reach your highest potential so that you can look back with zero regrets.
3. "You listen to people that you love, and you listen to people that you trust. Most of all, you listen to yourself."
Don’t be concerned with what other people think of you or what other people say about you and your choices. The only people that matter in your life are the ones that love you. Focus on the positive people in your life and only ask for advice from those who you trust.
4.“You can’t beat yourself up because you’re taking chances on things. But don’t start giving up on what you set forth to do in the beginning. ‘Cause that’s gonna get you nowhere. I can promise you that.”
Taking a chance and failing is better than not taking a chance at all. Take every risk that you want and don’t ever look back.
5.“You give 110 percent all the time, not just when you feel like it.”
You get out of life what you put into it. If you give 110 percent to every aspect of your life, every day, you'll see results.
6. "We are all vulnerable, and we will all at some point in our lives...fall. We will all fall. We must carry this in our hearts..that what we have is special. That it can be taken from us, and when it is taken from us, we will be tested. We will be tested to our very souls. We will now all be tested. It is these times, it is this pain, that allows us to look inside ourselves."
Life is a beautiful gift, but its beauty comes with trials and tribulations. We will all fall at some point in our lives, but we have to have the strength inside of us to get back up.
7. “Opportunity does not knock. It presents itself when you beat down the door.”
Don’t wait around for things to happen. Fight for what you want and never stop going after your dreams. Don’t sit and wait for the doors to open; break them down.
8. "Don't think. Just do."
Over-thinking can be the death of some of the best dreams. Sometimes you just have to dive in and do what you want to do before you get tripped up thinking about it too much.
9. "Champions don't give up. Champions don't complain. Champions give 200 percent. You're not champions until you've earned it."
The best way to succeed is to put your all into everything you do. Destroy every obstacle that comes your way and earn the success that you crave so badly. Stop complaining about how hard everything is and just do your best to be the champion of whatever you do.
10. “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.”
If you have a clear vision of what you want and you put your whole heart into it, you can’t lose. Simple as that.
