Wounds to the mind can last far longer than those to the body. In this episode of Buddha & The Coach, we explore this powerful teaching: “An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.”
As coaches, leaders, and mentors, we often focus on building physical skills and team strategy. But what about the unseen wounds? Toxic relationships and insincere teammates can quietly erode trust, damage confidence, and disrupt the mental well-being of an entire team. These wounds are not always visible, yet they impact performance and the overall athlete experience.
In this episode, I reflect on how this wisdom from Buddha applies to modern coaching. I share examples from my own experiences and discuss why fostering a healthy team culture goes far beyond what happens on the court or field. I will also explore practical ways coaches can protect their athletes from toxic dynamics and create an environment where trust, respect, and mental health are priorities.
You will walk away with questions to ponder for the week, tools to strengthen your coaching approach, and hopefully a deeper awareness of how relationships shape your team’s success.
Coaches play a key role in shaping not just athletes’ bodies, but also their minds. Let’s make sure we are paying attention to both.
🎙️ Also mentioned: The Mental Cast at mentalcast.com
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