Many people consider sports to be cheap and frivolous fun. However, that couldn’t be further away from the truth. You see, the whole concept of sports has a much deeper meaning, drawing its roots from the dawn of human civilization. So, the next time you see someone watching a basketball match or placing NBA odds, remember that they are actually participating in a ritual of sorts.
Sounds like a stretch? Well, keep reading this article and find out why watching the NBA (and even betting on it) might be beneficial for our souls!
Spiritual Significance of Sports
First, let’s clarify the part where we said that sport draws its roots from our ancient history. You see, thousands of years ago, people lived either as hunters or as gatherers. We spent our whole days moving around, trying to catch an animal or spot a delicious berry bush. Does that remind you of something?
Before you answer it, think of how we live today. Even people with physically demanding jobs aren’t as active as our ancestors. Now imagine someone who works a white-collar job – their physical activity levels must be ridiculously low. Obviously, that’s not natural, nor is the sedentary lifestyle healthy.
We humans have evolved to be on the move, to be constantly looking for something, to have quick reflexes on one side and impressive stamina and endurance on the other. Our days are supposed to be packed with adrenaline. Yet, modern society removes us from our natural state.
That’s where sports, including basketball, come into play. When practicing sports, humans go back to their natural state of running around, jumping, and hunting for something, even if it is just a ball. Even by simply watching sports, we get almost the same feeling of adrenaline and fulfilling our purpose.
NBA and Its Healing Impact on Society
Now that you see that sports are much more than just playing around let’s see how the NBA heals and inspires not just individuals but also whole communities. For a start, let’s see its spiritual impact on individuals:
Overcoming Grief and Trauma
We all lose people we love, it’s simply the circle of life. Still, it’s hard to accept the loss of someone we love. The feeling of loss can stay with us for months and years – yet grief is a natural feeling. However, we can do some things that help us alleviate the pain.
One such thing is watching the NBA, cheering for our favorite teams, and enjoying some amazing shots. Maybe it sounds ridiculous, but watching the NBA takes our minds off of grief and fills us with positive energy and optimism. This works well even with trauma – just give it a try and see.
Adopting a Winning Mindset
Do you spend too much time thinking about “what if?” You might be dreaming about a better future, but instead of manifesting it, you keep worrying about all the things that could go wrong. Failure is your worst enemy and biggest fear.
The NBA games can teach you to adopt a different mindset. When the players throw the ball, and it ends up in the hoop, they succeed because they believe they will score. By watching them play, you can also learn to believe in your skills. As a result, you will adopt a winning mindset, which will eventually help you win in life.
Finding Hope
In many NBA matches, there are clear favorites and underdogs. Or, the final outcome of the match seems to be predictable, especially at the very end of the match. Yet, the underdog manages to overturn the score. What seemed impossible becomes a reality.
NBA teaches us that, just like a team can overturn the score, you can also overturn your life. You keep repeating one mistake after another? Your life is like a string of failures? So what? You can still turn things around and get your life sorted.
Fostering the Sense of Community
Apart from influencing individuals, the NBA has done so much to empower the whole community. Millions of families, friends, and neighbors have bonded over these games. These bonds are crucial for spiritual well-being, as our souls weren’t created to wander the universe alone.
Additionally, many NBA stars have been born in poor families. Their future seemed bleak at best, but they grew up playing basketball, hoping they would get into the NBA one day. Eventually, they succeeded, and so they have set good examples for many other children in similar conditions.
Charity Work
Finally, let’s not forget that the NBA does a lot of charity work:
- Lebron James Family Foundation – Building stronger families through education and co-curricular educational initiatives
- Stephen Curry’s “Nothing But Nets” Campaign – A global campaign striving to prevent malaria, a dangerous disease killing countless children in Africa
- NBA Cares – A community outreach program focusing on social issues all around the world
Conclusion
Sport is much more than a way to kill time. It has a deep sociological and spiritual significance for modern society. Likewise, the NBA is much more than just another basketball league. The NBA games can heal our souls and inspire us to become the best we can be.
