Why We Felt With Rory
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Hey friend, I had something else planned for today. But then Rory McIlroy happened. His win last night hit differently. Not just for golf fans. Not just for sports enthusiasts. It landed because it was human. As he sank that final putt and fell to his knees—crying, screaming, overwhelmed— Millions felt it with him. Even I was choking up. Why? Empathetic resonance. The rare, beautiful experience of feeling someone else’s emotions as if they were your own. It’s especially powerful when we see someone finally win. After years of trying, and failing. Joe Rogan has spoken about this—how the only times he cries are when people succeed. When they finally get there. And we get choked up because we’ve all been there. Not at Augusta, maybe. But in the pursuit of something we care about. That’s what Rory represented. A man chasing a dream for ten years. Falling short. Watching it slip away. Seeing others succeed. And still—showing up. Again. And again. But here’s what made it even more powerful: He never lost himself. He stayed true to his character. He didn’t abandon his values. He didn’t sell out. He didn’t turn bitter, or resentful. In an era where sports and politics collided in uncomfortable ways, Rory led with humility. He carried the burden with grace and held the weight of expectation without letting it crush his character. That’s why people weren’t just cheering for a putt, they were cheering for a person. A man who showed us that you can be excellent without being ruthless. That you can struggle without becoming cynical. That you can wait a decade—and still find the moment waiting for you. We didn’t witness a historic achievement from a good athlete. We witnessed a moment of triumph from a great human being. Quote I likedJust because it’s hard doesn’t make it impossible Recommendation for youShrinking (on Apple TV) Written by the same people as Ted Lasso. Hilarious and with some great human messages. PodcastI have a podcast that helps you build a stronger mind to take on life. Like me, it's a work in progress. Subscribe to the podcast here. (p.s. If you can subscribe on Youtube that would be amazing.) I'll see you later, Lewis Try my Mindset app for sport here |
The Game Plan
Take on the next week with lessons, perspectives, or insights for your mindset.
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