Ted Lasso, Way Past The Point of Good

Don't worry about checking dates this is way past the point of relevant to the world in encouraging the new show about Ted hoping across the pond to share his positivity. What is is about is how nostalgic I am for that quality of person. How crave-able it is to see someone struggle and be good, and spread good, and believe in good, and expect it in others. In some ways he may be an archetype but where on Earth does the actual model of this archetype exist?

In a world where negativity often overshadows positivity, this noob inspires the hardened to believe. I have yet to see this in real life. I haven't see the nice guy finish first, or the hard work be seen, or the little man triumph. There is a really old classic "A Few Good Men" where the main characters were supposed to fight for Willie. They were supposed to fight for people who couldn't fight for themselves, and they saw when they failed to live up to that commitment. They saw it.

The Power of Positivity

Enter Ted Lasso, a character who embodies positivity, especially in sports that can bring out the worst in others. Maybe the extreme is what makes it so aspirational. He believes in his team's potential, encouraging them to exceed their own expectations. He wants good people not just good players. What a rare priority in sports.

Ted's unwavering optimism inspires not only his players but also viewers to adopt a more positive mindset in their lives. Despite facing numerous challenges—like cultural differences and personal difficulties, anxiety disorder, a divorce and separation from his child—Ted stays strong. His attitude reminds us that no matter how grim things may look, there’s always a silver lining that he doesn't just wait for, he works for it. He doesn't expect from others what he wouldn't do himself.

Kindness Matters

Throughout the series, Ted interacts with others in a genuinely caring manner. He listens, empathizes, and allows those around him to express their feelings without judgment. This atmosphere of kindness fosters loyalty among the characters. For instance, when Ted comforts his player Jamie Tartt after a setback, their relationship deepens, leading to Jamie’s astonishing growth as an individual.

Kindness can ripples that transform people. All people. Not just those that are easy to be kind too, not those that ask for it, it really is kindness when it is not an easy task to do. In real life, you don’t need special skills to be kind. It may not be popular now, but Ellen DeGeneres was a long time advocate of kindness. She mentioned her friendship with Former President Bush, and that when she said "be kind" she meant to everyone not just those that share our beliefs, or those with close proximity.

Power of Support

At the core of the show is the idea of believing in others. Ted Lasso builds trust, but grounds others with leadership. I've heard it said the quickest way to ground someone is to put responsibility on their shoulders. He challenges Roy to be the leader he knows he can be and look out for another character that is being harassed. Roy steps up to start to be the one to fight for others and he is suddenly very invested in the outcome.

Interesting things about Ted is that he is pushing people forward, not pushes against them. He has encouraged Nate to go from a locker room manager to a competitor, but he wasn't blinded by the betrayal, he still saw that part of Nate was still Nate, and that part he could recognize no matter how deplorable Nate acted at the time. How quickly we outside Hollywood only see the bad, because we need it to fit a narrative that we have written. Maybe the mean retail attendant could be an absolute hag, and still be a great manager. Maybe the wrestling mom screaming in the stands is a great Bible Study leader. Maybe we know only a piece and we don't need people to fit our description.

When Ted faces moments of self-doubt, he often relies on his positive outlook, shining a light for those around him. The encouragement he offers his players proves that belief can fuel motivation. As we observe characters evolve under Ted’s mentorship, we learn that everyone has the potential for greatness when someone is rooting for them. Let's root for other people's success instead of their failures. When we see people are rude, let's be nice. When we see people are failing, let's offer support.

Growth Through Adversity

John Delony recently posted on his Instagram. Stop complaining. It feels like you are doing something, when you are doing nothing at all. Complaining feels like power, but it is always at someone else's expense. Let it be about you. Fight for the guy who can't fight for himself. Believe in the power of positivity, even when you haven't seen it in real life yet. Another oldie says hope has a way of floating up.

Positivity in motion.