Did you catch “The Big Game” this weekend?  Full disclosure, I’m writing this article well in advance of the game, so I don’t know what’s going to happen, or what DID happen, by the time you read this.  But I am looking forward to watching it – and I’m hoping for an entertaining competition.  Regardless of what you have to say about the individual personalities, the political agendas, or the hyper-consumerism on full display (but come on, who doesn’t like Superbowl commercials?!), it is widely believed that professional athletics gives us an opportunity to witness some of the highest levels of human performance – and, at times, something to aspire to in our own pursuit of greatness.

We can’t all be The Goat in everything we do – by the way, if you didn’t watch the game, or aren’t hip to the latest lingo, “GOAT” stands for “Greatest of All Time”, which one of the players on one of the teams is often considered to be, based on his story of starting from nowhere and rising to some of the highest levels of achievement.

To continue – we can’t all be the GOAT – but we can be GREAT in different areas of our lives.  Logotherapy teaches us that we are all “special and unique individuals” with a task only we can accomplish in life.  Further, we are told that we have the opportunity to be indispensable and irreplaceable in the work that we do, if we choose to be.

So, if you are not going to be THE GOAT in some sporting event, where will you be THE GOAT?  Where can you show up in your uniqueness, what is the task today, this week, this year, or this lifetime only you can complete?  Do you choose to be indispensable and irreplaceable in your work, your community, your family, and your relationships?

The answer to each one of these questions – and the attitude you choose toward them – gives you the opportunity to discover meaning in your life.

Choose responsibly – or, as Frankl tells us, choose the ability to respond.

Choose meaningfully.

And, as always, I may not be THE GOAT in too many areas in life, but I definitely enjoy discussing these ideas and helping others to understand and implement them – so if you want to discuss further, I’m always happy to help!

Take care! – Dan