--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In basketball - as in life - true joy…" description: "\"In basketball - as in life - true joy comes from being fully present in each and every moment, not just when things are going your way. Of course, it's..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/400/phil-jackson-4484_accidents_in-basketball-as-in-life-true-joy-comes_671547.png" --- # In basketball - as in life - true joy comes from being… ![“In basketball - as in life - true joy comes from being fully present in each and every moment, not just when things are going your way. Of course, it's no accident that things are more likely to go your way when you stop worrying about whether you're going to win or lose and focus your full…” quote by Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/400/phil-jackson-4484_accidents_in-basketball-as-in-life-true-joy-comes_671547.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/400/phil-jackson-4484_accidents_in-basketball-as-in-life-true-joy-comes_671547.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/400/phil-jackson-4484_accidents_in-basketball-as-in-life-true-joy-comes_671547.png) > “In basketball - as in life - true joy comes from being fully present in each and every moment, not just when things are going your way. Of course, it's no accident that things are more likely to go your way when you stop worrying about whether you're going to win or lose and focus your full attention on what's happening right this moment.” [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being fully present yields joy and improves performance; anxiety about outcomes distracts from the moment. **In simple terms:** Presence brings joy and better results. Key Takeaway Practice mindfulness in sport. Themes mindfulness performance joy Mood calm focused Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - practice drills - mental training - game preparation - team talks Key Concepts flow state attention focus psychology of sport Questions to Reflect On - How can you train attention? - What rituals keep you grounded? A Different Perspective Over‑focus on outcomes can cause paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-life/) [Every moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-moment/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Going Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-win/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Joy Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy-comes/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Stop worrying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-worrying/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [True joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-joy/) [True life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-life/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Win or lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-or-lose/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [In basketball - as in life - true joy comes from being fully present in each and every moment, not just when things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/in-basketball-as-in-life-true-joy-comes-from-being-fully-present-in-2/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [“True joy comes from operating with Inner-directedness and recognizing who you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaya-roman/true-joy-comes-from-operating-with-inner-directedness-and-recognizing/) [Sanaya Roman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaya-roman/) > [True joy comes when you inspire, encourage, and guide someone else on a path that benefits him or her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-joy-comes-when-you-inspire-encourage-and-guide-someone-else-on-a-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [True joy comes only from God and He shares this joy with those who walk in fellowship with Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/true-joy-comes-only-from-god-and-he-shares-this-joy-with-those-who/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [“True joy comes when you inspire, encourage, and guide someone else on a path that benefits him or her. —ZIG ZIGLAR There are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/true-joy-comes-when-you-inspire-encourage-and-guide-someone-else-on-a/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [Not only is there more to life than basketball, there's a lot more to basketball than basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/not-only-is-there-more-to-life-than-basketball-there-s-a-lot-more-to/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [I'm going to win or lose a match playing on my terms, playing my game, which is big and aggressive and trying to dictate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-sock/i-m-going-to-win-or-lose-a-match-playing-on-my-terms-playing-my-game/) [Jack Sock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-sock/) > [You can't measure success if you have never failed. My father has taught me that if you really do want to reach your goals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steffi-graf/you-can-t-measure-success-if-you-have-never-failed-my-father-has/) [Steffi Graf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steffi-graf/) > [You are the spokesman for your character, you put on his case. Are you going to win or lose? There'll be no drama if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-swift/you-are-the-spokesman-for-your-character-you-put-on-his-case-are-you/) [Clive Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-swift/) > [Sure, it's nice to win. But there's only one thing that's important to me and that's the money we're going to get, win or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vida-blue/sure-it-s-nice-to-win-but-there-s-only-one-thing-that-s-important-to/) [Vida Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vida-blue/) > [Basketball has been my life and I worked at it so hard because I enjoyed it so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bird/basketball-has-been-my-life-and-i-worked-at-it-so-hard-because-i/) [Larry Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bird/) > [I take my sport damned seriously. Basketball is my life. There are other people who go into important games as if they were any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-take-my-sport-damned-seriously-basketball-is-my-life-there-are/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [People that don't know me think that basketball is my life 24/7. Trust me, there is much more to my life. My number one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-vitale/people-that-don-t-know-me-think-that-basketball-is-my-life-24-7-trust/) [Dick Vitale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-vitale/) > [Basketball is life, make goals for yourself then you can succeed! No matter what!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/basketball-is-life-make-goals-for-yourself-then-you-can-succeed-no/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [A big part of what kept me focused on the music was already failing with basketball. I played basketball all of my life. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/a-big-part-of-what-kept-me-focused-on-the-music-was-already-failing/) [Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/) ## More by Phil Jackson > [My parents were, had a marriage of passion, and the passion was about their religious beliefs. They were both immigrant families that - well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-parents-were-had-a-marriage-of-passion-and-the-passion-was-about/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [“The unconscious mind is a terrific solver of complex problems when the conscious mind is busy elsewhere or, perhaps better yet, not overtaxed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/the-unconscious-mind-is-a-terrific-solver-of-complex-problems-when/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [There's a term, agape, you hear used a lot with charismatic religious groups, that it's this more pure love of caring, of sharing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/there-s-a-term-agape-you-hear-used-a-lot-with-charismatic-religious/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [“My confidence grew out of knowing that when the spirit was right and the players were attuned to one another, the game was likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-confidence-grew-out-of-knowing-that-when-the-spirit-was-right-and/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [I don't believe in curfews, because you can't treat men like they were boys without forfeiting a certain level of trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/i-don-t-believe-in-curfews-because-you-can-t-treat-men-like-they-were/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [My philosophy is that you can't motivate players with speeches, you have motivated players that you draft. 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It's about mastering the art of letting go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/leadership-is-not-about-forcing-your-will-on-others-it-s-about/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [“As a leader your job is to do everything in your power to create the perfect conditions for success by benching your ego and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/as-a-leader-your-job-is-to-do-everything-in-your-power-to-create-the/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [If we can accept whatever hand we've been dealt - no matter how unwelcome - the way to proceed eventually becomes clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/if-we-can-accept-whatever-hand-we-ve-been-dealt-no-matter-how/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [A coach's main job is to reawaken a spirit in which the players can blend together effortlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/a-coach-s-main-job-is-to-reawaken-a-spirit-in-which-the-players-can/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [“Zen teacher Lewis Richmond tells the story of hearing Shunryu Suzuki sum up Buddhism in two words. Suzuki had just finished giving a talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/zen-teacher-lewis-richmond-tells-the-story-of-hearing-shunryu-suzuki/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [My mother's families were Mennonites or Anabaptists that came to Minnesota from Russia. They were actually moving around Europe doing diking and lowland reclamation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-mother-s-families-were-mennonites-or-anabaptists-that-came-to/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [The real value in everything you do is in the details. I just like that quote. A very similar way to say the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/the-real-value-in-everything-you-do-is-in-the-details-i-just-like/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [Coaching is about, "How do I get people to play at their peak level?" It is a spiritual quest. And if it's not that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/coaching-is-about-how-do-i-get-people-to-play-at-their-peak-level-it/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) [Explore all 110 Phil Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) ## More Accidents quotes > [Almost all accidents take place because of human distraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/almost-all-accidents-take-place-because-of-human-distraction/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/no-i-think-most-astronauts-recognize-that-the-space-shuttle-program/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-only-way-to-have-a-funeral-is-to-invite-everyone-who-ever-knew/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Good films are not made by accident, nor is good photography. You can have good things happen, on occasion, by accident that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/good-films-are-not-made-by-accident-nor-is-good-photography-you-can/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [By education I am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and a Hindu only by accident of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/by-education-i-am-an-englishman-by-views-an-internationalist-by/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [I made out with a homeless guy by accident. I had no idea -- he was really tan, he had no shoes on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-made-out-with-a-homeless-guy-by-accident-i-had-no-idea-he-was/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/) [Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/) > [In a city where you walk around, it's impossible to plan your day and your life as accidents will happen, you'll overhear things, bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schwartzman/in-a-city-where-you-walk-around-it-s-impossible-to-plan-your-day-and/) [Jason Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schwartzman/) > [I don't think it's by accident that I was first attracted to translating two French women poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-hacker/i-don-t-think-it-s-by-accident-that-i-was-first-attracted-to/) [Marilyn Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-hacker/) > [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/) [Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/) > [Dont stand outside in a lightning shower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padraig/dont-stand-outside-in-a-lightning-shower/) [Padraig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padraig/) > [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) [Browse all 1,971 Accidents quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In basketball - as in life - true joy comes from being fully present in each and every moment, not just when things are going your way. 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