Theme of the Week: Embrace Humility
“If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.”
- Epictetus
Brother,
Epictetus, the Greek Stoic philosopher who lived in the first century, taught that real improvement requires humility. His message is simple but difficult to live by: if you truly want to grow, you must be willing to appear inexperienced while you are learning. Progress does not protect your ego - it exposes your weaknesses and asks you to respond.
When I chose to pursue football overseas, I quickly realized I was not yet the athlete I wanted to be. If I was going to improve as a goalkeeper, I had to accept that development would reveal my shortcomings. I committed to pushing my ability to the highest level possible, knowing that the learning process would often be uncomfortable and, at times, embarrassing.
More than anything, I had to be honest about where I stood in my development. I was not just testing myself in another country - I was stepping into the heart of football culture in the UK. At that level, growth is inherently humbling. It forces you into uncertainty, asks you to become a student again, and requires you to keep showing up until your standards catch up with your ambition.
The training was humbling, but so was the life change itself. During a global pandemic, I boarded a plane to a country I had never been to, to train with someone I had only met over Zoom, all for the chance to improve. I put my life at home on hold to pursue a dream.
It was a decision many people questioned. Some could not understand the reasoning behind it, and I had to make peace with that. I had support, but I was also judged. And that was okay. Judgment does not prevent growth.
Over time I realized that people will always form opinions about your abilities, your choices, and your path. The world is quick to evaluate you while you are still building yourself. Many celebrate the results but overlook the messy process required to get there.
Growth demands humility. It asks you to embrace discomfort and remain open to learning.
Improvement is rarely comfortable, but stagnation is far more costly.
If you are willing to endure uncertainty, accept mistakes, and remain humble enough to keep learning, you give yourself a real chance to evolve.
Stay strong, even when you are not. It’s okay, you are not alone.
With love always,
Michael Argyrides
