As we wrap up celebrations of one of America's most widely celebrated holidays, the Super Bowl, it's worth reflecting on what the event actually represents.

As spectators, we tend to focus on the accolades.
The highlights.
The big plays in big moments.
Who came out on top.

But there's a looming question after falling short: Was this all for nothing?

After falling short in his NBA Championship hopes, Giannis Antetokounmpo said,

"There's no failure in sports, there's good days, bad days. Some days you are able to be successful, some days you're not. Some days it's your turn, some days it's not your turn. You don't always win; some other team's gonna win. Simple as that."

What this shows is an understanding of the difference between goals and the hard work put into achieving them. While the final outcome deserves celebration, it's the journey that got us there that is the collection of moments we will cherish.

In those moments, we as creators, athletes, human beings, were formed to be who we really desired to be.

Every Play Matters

Merlin Olsen, who played 15 seasons for the LA Rams and at Utah State, my alma mater. As one of the most respected and consistent football players in the history of the game, James E. Loehr wrote:

"Merlin Olsen, respected as one of the most consistent football players in the history of the game, viewed every single play as an exciting new challenge in perfection. In his mind, he conceived each new play as the most important of the entire year. Merlin’s performance consistency was a direct result of his disciplined habits of thinking."

When we treat every moment as the most important moment, that's when consistency shows up. This moment leads to the next, and that moment leads to the next.

But as soon as we start thinking seven, eight, nine moments into the future, we have a higher possibility of missing a step in the next one or two.

Reset and Adjust

We get sucked into carrying stress forward. Replaying what we don't have prepared instead of readjusting and moving forward. Merlin Olsen reset mentally every down. Something didn't go his way? Okay. He didn't let it define the next play.

Maybe a presentation didn't go as well as we hoped, that's fine. What happened has happened. How do I readjust and bring my consistent mindset of who I want to be, back into the current situation?

Just as in sports, every play matters. In everyone's day-to-day life, every moment matters. We're not going to perform our best every time. But what we can do is reset.

You don't need a perfect day, week, or month.

You just need a collection of great moments that lead to a great year.