There is something in all pf us that admires seemingly effortless winning. We admire the “naturals”, the talents, the something-specials.
But mist of these people are using their seeming effortlessness as a tool fir osycholigical warfare.
At the top of any game nobody has it easy, and this includes the game of life.
If anyone makes it look easy on the court or field, you can be pretty damn sure they fought some tough tough battles off the court, where minutes were hours and feet miles.
These are the battles that matter. It long seemed to me I was out of the fight, just grinding along, half or two thirds, or 99% dead. I lost, or so it seemed. But you stay in the fight, and the hopeless battles are often the best ones. It is you and your will alone, with no hope, no light, no victory in sight pr even conceivable.
Hopelessness is a sort of tree-fucking, as described in the book Gates of Fire. It is maximum effort against an immovable and unbeatable object, which still strengthens you.