About A Man — The Ted Lasso Effect.

I have come to learn about this man. He is quirky, welcoming, non-judgemental, kind, supportive, compassionate, and nurturing but also insecure, lonely, anxious, gullible and a tad nonsensical. The world has fallen head over heels in love with him, unanimously and celebrates him with such joy as well as gratitude.

You open your social media and on any given day you will see a post referencing this man. Some are merely thankful for their honesty about mental health struggles. Some compare him to another human who has embraced kindness and fair leadership. Others just want to rip his clothes off. And it made me wonder. What does Ted Lasso have that most of us are searching for in others vainly?

Is it as simply as authenticity?

Most of us mere mortals will have a few “personalities” we will give the stage to depending on the scene we are presented with. There’ll be your office character, your family-home identity, your friend circle persona, public events image and even your dating guise you have perfectioned over the years. There’ll be a lot of hours in your life spent pretending to be someone that you are not quite, probably more than the ones you present yourself as who you genuinely are. Isn’t it fact that most of us will claim that we may have a handful of people who we could confidently say truly know us?

Ted Lasso hasn’t learned how to pretend, or so it seems to me. His trusting nature allows for him to roam the world with complete genuineness (a little off topic, but I’ll never understand how ‘genuinity’ is not the correct noun to use) and we all fell in love with him.

I have always felt the world would be a kinder place if everyone felt comfortable enough to be who they truly are at all times. How beautiful would it be if our weaknesses would be celebrated and our honesty about (psychological) struggles would be appreciated. Wouldn’t it be so lovely if you could falter, and your surroundings would pick you up again. As well as when you succeed your environment jointly would celebrate with you — value the whole human not just what they expect of you to be. In the real world however, we can meet jealousy with victory and judgement with vulnerability and so we have learned to play pretend.

Of course, Ted Lasso faces criticism as well. At the end of Season 2 (spoiler alert) it looks like Nate has had enough of his “game” (pun intended) and is about to turn on him. Now, I don’t have any inside knowledge, but I am sure the writers found a way to feed the love back into Nate’s heart and he will join his caring mentor & team with a better understanding of who he is himself and what it is he was struggling with that turned him against the coach. It wouldn’t be Ted Lasso if Nate’s rebellion does not lead to a comforting conclusion for the viewers. I could be wrong of course. Who knows, maybe Season 3 of Ted Lasso will be a Shining and we’ve all been duped 😉.

Don’t get me wrong, although I feel a character like Ted Lasso would not be cherished quite as much in reality as he is on screen, I thoroughly enjoy the show and myself sponge up solace when watching it. In fact, I adore its loveliness and tenderness. It’s a friend, that series. A little bit like the friendships Ted Lasso makes during his time at AFC Richmond. He broke through the walls of Rebecca’s distaste and deceit. He empowered Keeley’s innocence and insecurities. He softened Roy’s rage and injected confidence into a disheartened team. And in turn, he receives understanding and with that is (for what I feel is the first time ever) able to deal with his own demons — his psychological struggles and in parts shattered past. It’s a big sympathetic ménage, everyone cares about and is there for one another. I mean, who wouldn’t want someone like him in their lives? Someone who could turn a village which is incandescent with selfish emotions & entitlement into a caring community? I certainly do; hence I think this production is simply fantastic and shines a light into so many living rooms especially to the individuals who are shackled by hurt, helplessness, loneliness and uncertainty.

It is so sweet that a world celebrates a sensitive character. I adore that people find solace in watching him change an audience’s perception on mental health issues and for the production to invite empathy. I utterly understand the wish for a friend like Ted Lasso. I do too. But what I don’t quite get is why we accept this character for who he is when we judge our dearest and strangers, even ourselves, whenever one stumbles. Seemingly, so many long for a mentor, friend, boss & companion like Ted Lasso but what few seem to realise is that we all are Ted Lasso and that is why we connect with and relate to the character so profoundly. If the world would allow for us to be our authentic selves, wouldn’t a lot of us be a version of the man he is?

To be vulnerable and even gullible is almost dismissed in today’s society which is all about resilience and strength, we are taught from a young age to not show weakness. Most of us are silencing their own Ted Lasso in fear of dismissal and judgement. I reckon, we don’t need a friend like Ted, we need to embrace our own Lasso just that little bit more.

Be curious. Absolutely. But to #Believe in your authenticity and let it sparkle is so much more valuable and the greatest gift you can give to yourself. I would hope, just like the series teaches us, the world will change with but most importantly for you. Anyway, that is what I personally have learned and would like to take away from the show.

Believe in who you are and rock her/him/they with all you got!