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We are continuously shaped by the environment in which we operate. At the same time, we can also shape the environment around us. This dynamic process of shaping, and being shaped by, our environment occurs continually throughout our lifespan, resulting in the potential for both beneficial and detrimental outcomes. Accordingly, the physical and social environment we are exposed to (and create for ourselves) plays an influential role in what we become. In
the quote above, Nietzsche highlights an often-overlooked downside to this process
whereby, despite acting with good intentions, the environment to which we are
exposed shapes us in undesired ways. In this particular case, by taking on the
noble act of fighting monsters (either real or imagined), we place ourselves in
an environment where we are exposed to monsters, forced to understand (and potentially
adopt) their diabolical ways and engage in battle against them. Over time,
exposure to such an environment may influence us to become more like the thing we
are fighting against and less like the person we intended to become. As sports coaches, we are often encouraged to act with good intentions. It is suggested that by being highly intentional in what we do, we become better able to meet the demands of our sporting context. There is no doubt some truth to this claim and considerable benefits to be gained by coaching in an intentional manner. However, just because we act with good intentions does not mean everything will work out well. There are, as Nietzsche points out, potential downsides to intentionally going to battle against the bad guy. Consider, for instance, the coach who decides to start battling with the referees to attain a competitive advantage for their team, only to find they have become argumentative and more concerned with the referees’ performance than that of their athletes. Or, the coach who chooses to battle against a losing mindset, only to find they have become a single-minded ‘win at all costs’ coach who is unable to adequately provide their athletes with the care, patience, attention, support, and guidance they need. Thus, in being intentional in what we do, it appears equally important to make sure we do so in a way that supports the desired outcomes for ourselves and our athletes.
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