In the NFC Divisional Playoff, the Washington Commanders led the Detroit Lions 45 – 28 late in the 4th quarter. Lions Quarterback Jared Goff got the ball back after the last Commanders’ score. Jared had thrown 3 interceptions in the game. He had to lead the Lions back from 3 scores down.
When asked whether he thought the Lions could win the game, Fox NFL Analyst Retired 7-Time Super Bowl Champion Quarterback Tom Brady said, “It’s possible. It’s not probable.” The GOAT (Greatest of All-Time) Tom got it.
Anything is possible. In Probability Theory, any outcome that you participate in has a non-zero probability of occurrence. It’s possible. If you don’t participate in the outcome, then your probability is 0%, your chance is 0%. That’s just math. If you don’t buy a California Lottery ticket, regardless of how astronomically low the odds of winning, your chances of winning are 0%. No ticket. No way.
Anything is possible. Not anything is probable. The Commanders defeated the Lions 45 – 31. Tom was absolutely right.
Mathematically, it’s possible that I could slam dunk a basketball with my left hand like 4-Time NBA Champion Lebron James. That’s only mathematically speaking. It’s not probable, not at all likely. Lebron is 6’9”, 250 pounds, and one of the 2 GOAT NBA Players. I’m 5’3”. I never played competitive basketball in my life. I can’t palm a basketball like Lebron, much less jump like him. If I practiced super hard for years, there’s still no way in hell, I dunk a basketball like Lebron. Although I have no interest in doing so. That makes a difference, too. I have nothing, but mad love and respect for Lebron.
Anything is possible, mathematically. Possible transforms into probable when I train, put my head down, and put in the work. Dad scared the hell out of me since I was 8 years old. Whatever I did or didn’t do, only made Dad so angry with me. I never knew which. I was Dad’s greatest disappointment in life. I would never be good enough for Dad, I would never be good enough for anyone, especially me. I spent most of my adult life proving that I was strong enough, that I was good enough to be loved. As the very sad little boy, I thought it was possible to be happy, to have peace someday. Still, I couldn’t see that happening. Happiness and peace inside were not probable, were not likely for me.
I trained with the late Mizukami Sensei for 25 years until he passed away. Sensei was a father to me, taught me to be a good man, and make a difference for others. Sensei said, “Just train.” For the first time in my life, I didn’t have to get somewhere or be someone else. I was safe just being me. I put my head down, followed his instructions, put in the work. I worked on myself, not on others. Just train.
In 35 years of Aikido, I’m Godan (5ht degree black belt), because of Mizukami Sensei. That might have been possible given where I started, given my childhood. Yet, that was not probable without Sensei’s training, his belief in me, and working on myself. Doing the work transformed possible into probable.
Mizukami Sensei taught both Ishibashi Sensei and me. Now, Ishibashi Sensei teaches me. He’s my big brother. Sensei said, “The purpose of Aikido is to release your fear.” In Aikido, when the bigger stronger man punches to my face, I wait it out. I enter the attack, take a glancing blow if I have to. I’m not always going to get away scot-free. It’s one time. Sensei said, “The safest place to be under the attack, in the danger.” I make my distance. Hold my position. Make my timing.
I apply the Aikido technique to myself, not to the attacker. I apply nikkyo (wristlock) to myself and match the punch with yoko-iriminage (strike to the side of the head) to the attacker. I enter the attack, enter what I fear, and let go my fear inside that I’m not good enough. Although my fear inside never completely disappears, every time I enter what I fear, I let go more of my fear inside. I’m quiet inside. I find peace inside me. Putting in the work makes the possible, probable.
I work with my therapist Lance Miller to heal my childhood trauma and depression. I forgive Dad for not knowing how to raise me, for being afraid inside too, and for being imperfectly human. I forgive myself for not being strong enough as a little boy to stand up to Dad and protect Mom. I forgive myself for being imperfectly human, too. On my path to end suffering, I love myself for who I am and forgive myself for who I’m not. I’m happy inside. Happiness is probable. I have a meaningful life, a life that I love.
Yes, anything is possible. Still, I have to put in the work, put my head down, just train to transform possible into probable. I work on myself, not on others. That’s all I can do. That’s all that we can do. I have nothing to do with goes on inside someone else. I have a say in what goes on inside me. I create my peace and happiness as probable. No one else can. I just train. It’s not like I have to get somewhere or be someone else. Neither do you.
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