Quote of the day by Kobe Bryant: ‘Everything negative–pressure, challenges–is all an opportunity for me to…’

"Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise."— This is one of the most iconic quotes of NBA legend Kobe Bryant. This quote means that the obstacles aren't there to stop you, instead it is meant to be a test to assess how much you can grow past and overcome your obstacles.

During his career, Kobe Bryant revelled in high-pressure situations of matches, and for him, pressure wasn't a burden. Instead, that pressure was an opportunity for Bryant to level up, prove his work ethic and also prove his mental toughness.

Instead, you should take the opportunity to see negative things as a scope for motivating, growing and working yourself towards a particular goal that you want to achieve. The "opportunity for me to rise" bit conveys exactly that. It means that whatever pressure situation you are in, it gives you a chance to be better, stronger and more skilled in whatever you do or you want to achieve.

A great real-life example of this is the NBA Finals in 2009, where Bryant led Los Angeles Lakers to the championship title.

Before the season, Kobe had faced a lot of criticism, with several people claiming that he won't be able to win the NBA championships without Shaquille O'Neal, following the Lakers' loss to Boston Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals.

To add context, Kobe and Shaquille had won three NBA titles together, in 2000, 2001 and 2002. In 2004, Shaquille had been traded to Miami Heat, and wasn't part of the Lakers' team that lost to Celtics in 2008.

There was immense pressure on Kobe as his legacy was being questioned. However, he took an opportunity in handling that pressure well, as he played a crucial role in helping LA Lakers beat Orlando Magic 4-1 in the NBA Finals.

Kobe averaged 32.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists in the series, and won the NBA 2009 Finals MVP award.

Some elements of his philosophy are mentioned in Kobe's 2018 book, The Mamba Mentality: How I Play.

After this, comes the challenge part. If at all you are stuck on one aspect of achieving a goal, you have to ask yourself: "What can I learn from this?" This alone shifts frustration into progress, and you will eventually stop complaining and start improving.

You have to use negativity as a fuel. When someone criticises you, you shouldn't let yourself down. Instead, you have to chanel it into action, and you have to work harder, focus on your goal, and let the results speak for itself.

His father, Joseph Washington "Jellybean" Bryant, was also a basketball player, and played for several teams, including the Philadephia 76ers, who reached the NBA Finals in 1977. They, however, lost to Portland Trail Blazers in the finals.

Kobe Bryant spent his entire 20-year NBA career with Los Angeles Lakers, and won the NBA championship title five times. The LA Lakers won three consecutive titles between 2000 and 2002, and then won again in 2009 and 2010. He was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2008, and also won the NBA Finals MVP award in 2009 and 2010.

He also won two Olympic gold medals with the USA men's basketball team in 2004 and 2008. On 26 January, 2020, Kobe Bryant tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. He was just 41 years old.