Addiction: Tony Adams

Simon Mundie (0:00)

Before we get to this episode, I am delighted to say that my debut book, published by Bloomsbury, called Champion Thinking, How To Find Success Without Losing Yourself, is now on general release. The key idea is this, success is not synonymous with happiness. You know the story, we think we'll be happy when X happens. The job, the house, the relationship, the World Cup win, the Olympic gold medal. But frequently people reach the top of their Everest and feel underwhelmed and even empty. But flow is inherently enjoyable. Why is that? Because as thoughts about past and future drop away, so does our identity and sense of self. And we love it when that happens. That's why we love losing ourselves in sport, music, conversation, books, dance. The portals are vast. While we think we want to become a somebody, we are happiest when we realise at the deepest level we are nobody. And on that level, we're at peace, whole and connected with everyone and everything. I think this is a recognition the world could do with, to be honest, and is an upgrade on the usual success evangelism, which is so pervasive. So if this resonates, please do consider buying Champion Thinking, How To Find Success Without Losing Yourself.

SPEAKER_2 (1:14)

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Simon Mundie (2:26)

This is Don't Tell Me The Score, the podcast that uses sport to explore life's bigger questions. My name is Simon Mundie, and each week, I sit down with an expert from the biggest sporting names in the world to Buddhist monks, neuroscientists, psychologists and philosophers. We discuss a theme that tells us something insightful and important about life and how best to live it. From the importance of self-acceptance to facing addiction and developing resilience right through to getting your circadian rhythms in sync and how to sleep better. Sport is a metaphor for life, and in this podcast, I aim to prove that right. I always like hearing from you, so the best way to get in touch is via my website, simonmundie.com, or I'm at Simon Mundie on social media.

In this episode, I'm talking to the founder of the Sporting Chance Clinic, who also happens to be an Arsenal and England legend, it is of course Tony Adams, and the theme of this conversation is addiction. Hi Tony.

Tony Adams (3:33)

Hi mate, how you doing?

Simon Mundie (3:35)

He laughs because we've actually literally just been having a long chat, but we've just started recording. Thank you very much for coming on daytime of the school.

Tony Adams (3:41)

Pleasure, pleasure mate.

Simon Mundie (3:42)

A pleasure to have you here, it really is.

Tony Adams (3:44)

Last time I was in this kind of environment, I was in floods of tears, I just lost my mother and did desert island discs.

Simon Mundie (3:51)

Yes, I've listened.

Tony Adams (3:53)

I was just in floods and floods of tears, I just lost her a couple of years to bone cancer, she didn't deserve that. The sweet Caroline, the music came on, it was very emotive.

Hopefully, well, let's see. Who knows? I've been a bit emotional lately.

Simon Mundie (4:07)

Feel free. This is a safe space to be in here Tony, I promise you that. So how are you?

Tony Adams (4:14)

That's difficult at times. Today I'm having a great day to be honest, I've been to a lot of meetings recently and work in my program and life's quite wonderful. I'm very grateful at the moment. A lot of people and a lot of pain out there. And I'm just so privileged to have fantastic relationships with all my family. And, you know, I'm just living the dream really. You know, it's just so I'm at peace. You know, I've got plenty of serenity in my life and I'm very comfortable in my own skin. And I don't have thought that I would actually say that. But I am today and I'm good enough for me, which is obviously I suffered as a kid through self-esteem and self-loathing and and to actually be in a place where I am today, you know, coming up 23 years without a drink, to be actually calm and peaceful and kind of, it don't matter what you think of me, it's about what I think of myself. And I have to tell myself that quite often. So it's great to be here. I can do, my world is open. I'm free. I can do whatever I want. I can come here and chat to you. I can do anything and I can say no as well.