Your Cinderella Moment — Be Ready for Your Second Chance.

I strongly identified with the film's portrayal of boxer James J. Braddock. Following injuries and financial hardship, he could no longer depend on boxing to provide for his family. He worked at the docks and struggled to meet the family's basic needs. His sporting future appeared extremely uncertain.

In the film, the family's financial difficulties become so severe that James and Mae cannot heat their home adequately, and the children become ill.

Mae temporarily sends the children to stay with relatives because she believes it is necessary to protect them. She does not leave James. James is devastated, because he had promised his son that the family would stay together.

He sets aside his pride and asks for financial assistance to bring the children home. Love, dignity, responsibility and accepting help are at the heart of the story.

In the film, Braddock receives an unexpected opportunity to fight again. His comeback begins with a fight against Corn Griffin, and his success eventually leads to a world heavyweight championship fight against Max Baer.

The film dramatises Braddock's real life; not every scene is a historical record.

After my concussion and other major setbacks, I could not know whether another meaningful opportunity to return to the national team would arise. The Cinderella Man story gave me hope.

I identified with the desire to regain a former sporting position, and with continuing to prepare while the future remained uncertain. 1% is all we need — and building my new 100% was how I prepared. My own family circumstances were not comparable to Braddock's financial crisis.

I was not inspired solely by the possibility of sporting victory. I was also moved by Braddock's commitment to his family, his willingness to set aside pride and his desire to rebuild a meaningful life.

Extraordinary ambition can be connected to love and responsibility — without love or family becoming mere instruments for motivation.

In my coaching conversations I reflected on how the difficult experiences I had lived through helped me become more attentive to the suffering of other people.

Others can experience injury, financial difficulty, relationship breakdown, job loss and circumstances that are invisible from the outside. Hardship does not automatically make someone compassionate. But reflecting on our experiences can help us develop greater understanding and humility.