“The More I Surrender, The More I WIN!” Murphy Jensen on Mental Health

<h2>Episode #24 Season 25: Shaun Boyce &amp; Justin Yeo</h2><p><strong style="background-color: transparent">Podcast:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent"> GoTennis! Podcast</span></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent">Host:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent"> Shaun Boyce</span></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent">Guests:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent"> Murphy Jensen &amp; Justin Yeo</span></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent">Powered by:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent"> Signature Tennis</span></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent">Duration:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent"> 10 minutes</span></p><h2><strong style="background-color: transparent">🎾 What This Episode Is Really About</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color: transparent">In this eye-opening episode of the </span><em style="background-color: transparent">GoTennis! Podcast</em><span style="background-color: transparent">, we explore the complex and often overlooked issue of </span><strong style="background-color: transparent">mental health in the world of competitive tennis</strong><span style="background-color: transparent">. Host Shaun Boyce invites two powerful voices to the mic: </span><strong style="background-color: transparent">Murphy Jensen</strong><span style="background-color: transparent">, Grand Slam doubles champion turned mental health advocate, and </span><strong style="background-color: transparent">Justin Yeo</strong><span style="background-color: transparent">, a straight-talking veteran coach who doesn't mince words.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent">What begins with Justin’s blunt, old-school critique of today’s young players quickly evolves into a </span><strong style="background-color: transparent">raw, thoughtful, and deeply human conversation</strong><span style="background-color: transparent">. Murphy responds with personal stories that cut through the stigma—talking openly about childhood anxiety, emotional outbursts, panic attacks, and the heavy cost of performance pressure.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent">This episode isn’t just about tennis. It’s about what happens when </span><strong style="background-color: transparent">identity, success, and mental health collide</strong><span style="background-color: transparent">, and how we can do better as a sports culture to support athletes beyond their rankings.</span></p><h2><strong style="background-color: transparent">💬 Topics Covered</strong></h2><ul><li><span style="background-color: transparent">The generational gap in how mental health is perceived in sports</span></li><li><span style="background-color: transparent">Why athletes from any era can struggle, regardless of background</span></li><li><span style="background-color: transparent">Murphy’s experience with ADHD, anxiety, and early emotional trauma</span></li><li><span style="background-color: transparent">The emotional toll of early specialization and high expectations</span></li><li><span style="background-color: transparent">How approval-seeking behavior can lead to dangerous paths</span></li><li><span style="background-color: transparent">The role coaches, parents, and mentors play in shaping mental resilience</span></li><li><span style="background-color: transparent">Why we need to create safer spaces for emotional expression in sports</span></li></ul><h2><strong style="background-color: transparent">🧠 Key Insights</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color: transparent">This episode offers more than just anecdotes—it provides </span><strong style="background-color: transparent">insights that challenge conventional thinking</strong><span style="background-color: transparent"> about what it means to be mentally tough:</span></p><ul><li><strong style="background-color: transparent">Mental health isn't weakness</strong><span style="background-color: transparent">—it's part of the athlete experience.</span></li><li>Success doesn't eliminate emotional pain—it often magnifies it.</li><li>Shame-based coaching and punishment leave lasting scars.</li><li>Compassionate leadership and emotional education are critical.</li><li>The true victory is building self-worth that isn’t tied to performance.</li></ul><p><span style="background-color: transparent">Murphy shares how, through personal recovery, he came to understand the difference between ego and authenticity—and why </span><strong style="background-color: transparent">surrendering to the truth of your experience can be the most powerful move of all</strong><span style="background-color: transparent">.</span></p><h2><strong style="background-color: transparent">🗣️ Standout Moment</strong></h2><p><em style="background-color: transparent">“The most important relationship I’ve discovered in life is the one I have with me.”</em><span style="background-color: transparent"> — Murphy Jensen</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent">That line says it all. Tennis is 98% mental, but are we giving players the emotional tools to handle the other 98% of life?</span></p><h2><strong style="background-color: transparent">📌 Episode Credits</strong></h2><ul><li><strong style="background-color: transparent">Studio Support:</strong><a href="https://regeovinate.com" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent"> </a><a href="https://regeovinate.com" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent">regeovinate.com</a></li><li><strong style="background-color: transparent">Podcast Sponsor:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent"> Signature Tennis</span></li></ul><h2><strong style="background-color: transparent">📬 Want to Connect?</strong></h2><p><span style="background-color: transparent">If you have questions, topics, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you. </span><a href="https://letsgotennis.com/mystory/" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent"><strong>Share your thoughts</strong></a><span style="background-color: transparent"> and help shape future episodes.</span></p><p>For more 10 Minutes of Tennis episodes: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKLIP3Zrp28TLg1nCs4E-2PzkRcjyePEM" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKLIP3Zrp28TLg1nCs4E-2PzkRcjyePEM</a></p><p><a href="https://youtube.com/live/jJ0Dg8Boiv4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube Replay</a></p><p>Shaun Boyce USPTA: <a href="mailto:shaun@tennisforchildren.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">shaun@tennisforchildren.com</a></p><p><a href="https://tennisforchildren.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://tennisforchildren.com/</a> </p><p>Justin Yeo: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/yeocoach/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/yeocoach/</a></p><p>Bobby Schindler USPTA: <a href="mailto:schindlerb@comcast.net" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">schindlerb@comcast.net</a></p><p><a href="https://windermerecommunity.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://windermerecommunity.net/</a> </p><p>Geovanna Boyce: <a href="mailto:geovy@regeovinate.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">geovy@regeovinate.com</a></p><p><a href="https://regeovinate.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://regeovinate.com/</a> </p><p>This podcast is powered by GoTennis! 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Transcript
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Hey, hey, this is Shaun with the GoTennis! Podcast

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With that said, let's get started

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with 10 minutes of tennis.

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- And Shaun will tell me what you're doing

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in mental health, I was like, wow,

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this is a big subject that's really mixed up

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at the moment because we were just talking about

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before you came on the camera.

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I said, I don't understand these players'

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engine because they just bunch of pushy's

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as far as on concerns, the way they behave.

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Because the mental game was just as big

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and just as tough back in your days as it is now.

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They were kids that grew up with the hand failed,

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the silver spoon, everything that we didn't have.

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And now for them to wine and complain,

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it's like someone needs to just give them

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a wooden spoon over the ass, you know?

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- I don't know about that.

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We are being recorded.

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I thought I would fly up actually

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'cause I'm gonna get you in the minute.

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- Yeah, well, it's a fine line between

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Stupid and Clever.

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- Yes.

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- And we have more information than we'd ever had back then.

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- Totally great.

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- And I am a person that gets the call

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from a Hall of Fame tennis player

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or Hall of Fame whatever and they don't wanna live anymore.

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And they worked their butts off

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and they got the wooden spoon and they were,

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and they don't wanna be here anymore.

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Or I am someone that was restless, irritable

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from kindergarten to sixth grade.

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And I got spanked every single day

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by the nuns at the school and I didn't know it.

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But I had anxiety.

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I had fears, doubts and insecurities.

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I didn't know everyone else did too.

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But there is a difference I have learned.

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I'm pretty damn sure I had what they diagnosed

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as ADHD today.

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100%.

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And so a child at a boy in the school,

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a boy if you've got kids,

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develops a little slower than the girls.

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And if I get overwhelmed in a crowd

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and kindergarten or first grade or loud noises,

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there's nothing wrong with me.

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But you almost, my little guy is,

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does better with one-on-one.

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- Yep.

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And if he isn't sure of the rules of the game,

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how, you know, so, you know,

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Murphy, you're being disruptive, you know.

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You're running three miles.

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How about instead of going over to Murphy,

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little eight, 10-year-old Murphy and saying,

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you know, we don't throw our rackets

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at the tennis courts, right?

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But I see you're having a hard time.

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Is there anything I can do to help you right now?

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Do you need a little time?

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Do you need a little time?

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But I was told to run 30 miles and then I sucked.

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And then I was doing it wrong

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and I had a lot of shame and a lot of guilt around that.

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So, perception is everything.

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Now the professional players today,

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get on the road 52 weeks a year after you've played tennis

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every day of your life since the age of four to 18.

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And do you have any tools and life skills to operate?

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Now you've won, wimbleed it.

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Good luck.

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Good luck if you don't have the right.

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So, you and I both in the world of tennis has taught me

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How much mental coaching did I get outside of the wooden spoon

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and kicked out a practice and told to run home?

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My dad played American professional football

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and both parents were great coaches.

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And when I had a complete meltdown

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and I'm throwing rackets over the fence in a river

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after double-faulting three straight games,

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trying to be the top five player in the country

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going from top 20.

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I'm 20 and I'm playing David Wheaton, a double-fault,

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12 times in a row, I lost my cookies

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and my dad carried me off the court

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and they said, "You can't do that.

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It's my son, I can do that."

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And he didn't beat me, didn't make me run.

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And he said, "What do you have to say?

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"What's going on?"

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And I said, "Thank you for getting me off that court.

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"I didn't know what the hell was going on."

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I was having a moment that I wouldn't navigate.

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I put so much pressure on myself.

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I'm a baby, I'm 11, right?

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And so, those fears and doubts and insecurities

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led to me seeking your approval and affection

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at whatever cost.

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Hey Murphy, you're ranked this

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at the World Championships of 12 and under some kids

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and said, "Let's hit the mini bar.

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"I don't even know what the hell they're talking about."

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Smoke that.

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What is that?

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I didn't know not to, okay,

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'cause I wanted you to prove your affection

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because I was real to the fears and doubts

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and insecurities, right?

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And then I went to the French Open

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and I had my first panic attack.

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And I was overwhelmed, not in the safest place

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I've found always has been on the court,

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but it was off the court.

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How do I manage life between matches?

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How do I manage, I never signed up to be on the cover

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and nothing, okay?

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The opportunity is for agents and managers

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and coaches and teachers is to empower these pros

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or these future tennis players or human beings

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most importantly to navigate the losses.

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You're gonna get knocked down.

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Your heart is gonna break at some point.

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Yep.

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And you're gonna get disappointed.

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And what do you do when it ain't going your way?

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And you're not getting what you want when you want it.

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Do I freak out like a seven year old?

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And if I'm freaking out, there's something going on

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underneath the hood, you know?

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Yep.

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Yep.

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And I have the ability to accept life on life's terms today

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and I have found in my pathway of recovery

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the more I surrender, the more I win.

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I get this ego out of the way, this fear,

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I get knocked out and secured out of the way.

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And I am the secret sauce to winning any space in life

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is an open mind and open heart.

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And I come from a place of service and helping others

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until the day I die, you know?

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That's where the principal is helping others save my life.

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And anyway, back to you, Justin.

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The honor and the privilege to be in the room with you,

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it's not easy for people to transition out of a sport.

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They identify their self-worth.

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My self-worth isn't based on my ranking

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or my banking account or my SAT score or my school grades.

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You know, the most important relationship I've discovered

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in life is the one I have with me.

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Yep.

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If I gotta get the one, I gotta get right with the man in the mirror

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or I can't get right with anything.

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And that's the stuff that children, you know,

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I wake up in the morning, some days I got ahead

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that there's vultures in there.

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And they wake up and say, "Get up, Murphy.

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She's going to leave you.

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This business venture you're working on,

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they ain't going to work for you, you know?"

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And nobody appreciates you, don't you know that?

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And I got to say, "Oh, that now."

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First of all, the greatest thing I've learned is,

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I'm not my mind and I'm not my thoughts.

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Something noticed that in that too I am.

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I am a human being, having some kind of experience

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that, you know, how do you explain the unexplainable?

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You have to experience it.

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Well, there you have it.

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See you next time.

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