Some athletes are known for having a “screw loose”. They seem to relish the nasty or painful aspects of their sport and throw their bodies around with little regard for their safety or physical well-being. There’s something wrong with those people. But just because an athlete embraces adversity or gets excited about a challenge, it doesn’t put him in the same category. You don’t have to be crazy to recognize that going through difficulty has the potential to make you stronger and develop your character. The best athletes and teammates I’ve ever observed are the ones who are able to approach adversity with positivity and enthusiasm. Those are the guys you want on your team on those tough conditioning days. Their attitude lifts everyone’s spirits and helps the team rise to the occasion. There’s nothing crazy about that at all. And this discipline of maintaining a positive outlook while going through something hard is even more valuable in everyday life, but I noticed it takes extra effort to transfer this mentality from the sports field to the home or the office. It doesn’t just happen by itself.