An inspiring video of Tim Tebow explaining how he blocks out critics and worries only about what God thinks has gone viral, compiling 4.7 million views.
Tebow was taking questions from the media during the New York Mets’ spring training Saturday in Port St. Lucie, Fl., when he was asked how he deals with critics who say he won’t succeed.
Tebow won the Heisman Trophy at the University of Florida and then played football in the NFL before beginning his career as a television analyst. He announced in 2016 that he would try and become a professional baseball player -- an action that had plenty of naysayers.
“It’s really trying to keep perspective and not letting other people define you because they sure do want to,” Tebow said. “Shoot, I try to encourage young people all the time to not let the world or other people -- outside sources -- define you because you are always going to have critics and naysayers and people that are going to tell you that you won’t, that you can’t, that you shouldn’t. Most of those people are the people that didn’t, that wouldn’t, that couldn’t.”
A minor league player in the Mets’ organization, Tebow has improved at the plate. He batted .226 for two teams in 2017 before hitting .273 for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, earning him a spot on the Double-A Eastern League All-Star team. His on-base percentage jumped from .309 to .336, and his slugging percentage from .347 to .399.
“Don’t be defined by outside sources,” Tebow added. “You go after your dreams. Succeeding or failing is not making it to the bigs or it’s not necessarily fulfilling that. It’s having to not live with regret because I didn’t try. I just feel for all the young people that don’t go after something because they are so afraid of failing that you are going to live with a lot more regret than if you would have if you tried and you failed. I’m very passionate about that.”
SNY sports reporter Steve Gelbs posted the video of Tebow’s speech on Twitter. It soon went viral, garnering 4.77 million views.
“I think the reason people don’t go after things is because how much you will be criticized,” Tebow said. “What if I fall flat on my face? Fear and doubt and all these things creep in. I just don’t believe that is the healthiest way to live. I don’t want to have to live with fear or doubt every day, regardless of what everybody here says about me. It doesn’t define me.
“I’m grateful that doesn’t define me,” he concluded. “There is one thing that defines me and that’s what God says about me. Besides that, I get to go live out my dreams and try to help as many people along the way as possible.”
"You’re always going to have critics and naysayers and people that are going to tell you that you won’t, that you can’t, that you shouldn’t. Most of those people are the people that didn’t, that wouldn’t, that couldn’t."
— Steve Gelbs (@SteveGelbs) February 16, 2019
Baseball aside, there's no doubt he's an inspirational guy pic.twitter.com/FDTwUuKXI2
Tebow also has had a role in a major movie. He and his brother, Robby, are executive producers of the faith-based film, Run the Race, that opens in theaters this weekend.
Michael Foust is a freelance writer. Visit his blog, Michael Foust.com.
Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Frazer Harrison/Staff
