We all face moments when we're at the bottom looking straight up—when the pressure mounts, confidence wavers, and everything feels like it's slipping away. Whether you're on a football field, in a classroom, boardroom, or any arena where performance matters, these moments test not just our skills, but our ability to find the inner fire that drives excellence.
The question isn't whether these challenging moments will come; it's whether we'll be ready when they do.
This story began 65 years ago on a practice field, but its lessons extend far beyond sports. It's about the science of breathing under pressure, the power of mentorship in our darkest moments, and the daily habits that build unstoppable momentum.
Most importantly, it's about understanding that the fire you're looking for isn't something you need to create—it's already burning within you, waiting for the right conditions to emerge.
What follows is both a personal journey and a practical guide. You'll discover why certain breathing techniques can literally change your brain chemistry, how a few quiet words from the right person can alter the trajectory of your life, and how consistent daily practices create the foundation for peak performance.
The fire was always there. Sometimes you just need to know how to find it.
The Battle Breath
Take a deep breath and scrunch your face as you take a deep inhale through your nose. This breath is also known as the battle breath.
This breath brings much-needed oxygen to your brain, neutralizing the fight-or-flight response and getting you back above the line—shifting you from reactive to responsive.
When stress triggers your nervous system, breathing becomes shallow, limiting oxygen to your prefrontal cortex—the part responsible for clear thinking and decision-making. Deep, controlled breaths flood your brain with oxygen and activate your body's natural calming mechanism.
This reset moves you from "below the line" (reactive, survival mode) to "above the line" (creative, solution-focused mode). When you're above the line, you can think strategically and respond with clarity rather than panic.
The "fire" you're finding isn't just motivation—it's your brain operating at full capacity. Use this battle breath whenever you feel yourself slipping below the line.
A Lesson from the Bottom
The fire was brought in a time of real need. If I close my eyes, a 65-year-old story comes roaring back. It was the first day of spring practice. I was at the bottom of the depth chart.
I was humiliated. I was at the bottom looking straight up. I had acted poorly in the previous drill, going full speed when I was supposed to be running dummy. The coaches were upset, and I could feel my teammates' eyes on me— not with encouragement, but with that look that said I didn't belong.
That's when Maxie Baughan, a former NFL linebacker who went on to be listed as one of the best linebackers of all time, came up behind me. In a really soft voice, calm and steady, he said: "Bend your knees. Take a breath. Out of the corner of your eye, watch the ball. When it's snapped, you explode to the ball."
It wasn't just instruction—it was a lifeline. Here was this legend taking time to quietly guide someone barely hanging on to the bottom rung. He didn't yell or embarrass me further. He simply gave me the fundamentals I needed and the breath to center myself.
That moment taught me something profound: the fire isn't always a blazing inferno. Sometimes it's a steady flame passed from one person to another in a moment of need. Sometimes finding the fire means accepting guidance, taking that centering breath, and trusting that you have what it takes to explode toward your target.
Accept Love
Finding your fire is ultimately about accepting love in all its forms.
Accept where you are without judgment—whether you're at the top or struggling at the bottom. Accept help from others who want to see you succeed, understanding that receiving assistance is strength, not weakness. Accept failureas fuel for growth rather than evidence of defeat.
Love the process—find joy in daily practice and gradual improvement. Love your people—peak performance thrives through meaningful relationships with teammates, family, and mentors. Love your purpose—connect to something bigger than yourself.
Accept love from others—let teammates, family, and mentors fuel your fire with their encouragement and belief. Accept love from yourself—treat yourself with the same kindness you'd show a good friend. Accept love from the universe—trust that you have what it takes, even when you can't see it clearly.
Love doesn't always show up as comfort—sometimes it appears as challenge, feedback, or high standards from someone who refuses to let you settle for less than your best.
The Truth
Whether it's the oxygen flowing to your brain, the quiet guidance of a mentor, or the love that sustains you through challenges, the fire was always there.
Sometimes you just need the right breath, the right voice, or the right love to fan the flames.
Core Principles
Accept Love: Learn to embrace reality while maintaining passion for the process
Awareness: Develop the meta-skill of recognizing energy patterns and momentum triggers
Inhale, Pause, Explode: Master the rhythm that channels scattered energy into purposeful action
The Three A's: Use Accountability, Adaptation, and Alignment to sustain momentum long-term
BIG MO: Building Unstoppable Momentum in Football
Point 1: Accept Where You Are, Then Build Awareness
Find the trigger of your best performance.
Start by embracing your current skill level and situation without judgment—whether you're a starter or working to earn playing time. Then develop the ability to recognize when you have momentum (like after a good practice or successful play) and when you don't. This awareness helps you understand what triggers your best performance so you can recreate those conditions.
Point 2: Master the Rhythm of High-Level Performance
Focus on the sensations and channel the passion.
Learn the "Inhale-Pause-Explode" cycle that turns energy into explosive action on the field. Inhale means preparing mentally and physically, Pause means staying composed and reading the situation, and Explode means executing with full commitment. This rhythm works whether you're at the line of scrimmage, studying film, or hitting the weight room.
Point 3: Do the Daily Work Until It's Automatic
Create unstoppable momentum.
Practice your fundamentals—blocking, tackling, routes, conditioning—with such consistency and intensity that your body responds automatically under pressure. When you combine this daily excellence with accountability to your teammates, the ability to adapt when things don't go as planned, and alignment with the team's goals, you create unstoppable momentum that feeds on itself.
The Bottom Line: You're not chasing motivation—you're building the habits and mindset that make motivation show up when you need it most.
Final Thought
The fire you seek isn't something you must build from scratch—it's the ember that's been burning within you all along. In moments of doubt, breathe deeply, accept the love around you, and remember: you already have everything you need to rise. The only question is whether you're ready to let that fire burn bright.