I know from personal experience the importance of attitudes and self-regulation. As a college athlete and team captain, many times my emotions would have to take a back seat for the sake of the team and the game before us.

I remember an entire stadium with thousands of people jeering at me as I walked across basketball floor. My maiden name “Clutts” pronounced “klutz,” means the clumsy one. The fans in that city were cruel as they began to jeer at me, the KLUTZ!

But something rose up in my heart; an emotional cue—a strength and awareness that demanded that I stand erect, strong, and focused—not only for me but for the sake of my team. An awareness of who I was, along with the reality of God within me, reminded me that all things were possible and allowed me to keep my emotions in check.