Stress Isn’t the Enemy #42

Tom Brady once responded to critics who said his leadership style “stressed out” his teammates by saying: “I thought stressful was not having Super Bowl rings. This wasn’t daycare. If I wanted to have fun, I was going to go to Disneyland with my kids.”

That’s a powerful reminder that stress is part of the game. It’s not supposed to be easy. But here’s the thing—we don’t have to choose between going for the Super Bowl and having fun.

The key is to embrace the stress and find joy in the process. Not superficial joy, but eudaimonic joy—the deep satisfaction that comes from giving your all to something meaningful.