From Bullied to Baller: Former Utah State Star Brock Miller on Building Inner Confidence

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I recently had the chance to sit down with an incredible guy, Brock Miller.

Now, if you're a college basketball fan, you might know Brock as a two-time Mountain West champion and NCAA March Madness participant from Utah State.

But let me tell you, there's so much more to this dude than just his skills on the court.

The Curveball Life Threw at Young Brock

Picture this: You're 8 years old, living your best life, and then boom – you wake up one morning with patches of hair on your pillow. That's exactly what happened to Brock.

He told me:

"I woke up one morning and I noticed that a patch of my hair was on my pillow and I was confused. I was like, what's going on?"

Turns out, Brock was diagnosed with alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. By the time he hit 10, all his hair was gone. Now, we all know kids can be brutal, and Brock didn't get a pass. He faced some serious bullying, especially in middle school.

Finding His Rock: Faith, Family, and Hoops

But here's where Brock's story takes a turn that honestly blew me away. Instead of letting this knock him down, he found strength in three key areas:

1. Faith in Jesus Christ

2. His incredible family

3. His passion for basketball

Brock put it perfectly when he said, "Number one is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in God."

And let me tell you about his family – his sister was an absolute MVP. She'd give him haircuts twice a week to keep his head smooth. Talk about sibling love, right?

Quick Confidence Boosters from Brock:

• Lean into your faith when times get tough

• Don't underestimate the power of family support

• Find that one thing you're passionate about and pour yourself into it

Flipping the Script: From Victim to Hero

Now, here's where Brock's story gets really inspiring. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he decided to use his experience to help others. Check this out:

"I would start looking on purpose for people that sat alone at lunch," Brock told me. "Instead of being a victim saying, woe is me, I'm getting bullied... it was like, who else is alone? Because I understand what it feels like."

How awesome is that? This guy took his pain and turned it into a superpower for helping others. He even got permission from his principal to take a special needs student to lunch. That's the kind of stuff that really shows what a person is made of.

Living Life with Purpose

Brock dropped some serious wisdom about intentional living. He believes that real change happens when we focus on building others up. He told me:

"When you're intentional about building up others and looking outside of yourself, that's where change is really made."

This isn't just about making others feel good – it's about finding lasting joy for yourself too. Brock makes a great point about the difference between fleeting happiness and real, enduring joy.

Brock's Game Plan for Intentional Living:

1. Actively look for ways to help others every day

2. Use your unique skills to make a difference

3. Aim for long-lasting joy, not just quick hits of happiness

Fresh Courage: Brock's Secret Sauce

I asked Brock how we can inspire fresh courage in people today, and his answer was gold:

"Fresh is something unique. Fresh is something personal... Courage, are you willing to put in the effort and work to do things that you don't want to do?"

He combines these concepts to define fresh courage as a unique way of tackling difficult but important tasks that can positively impact both your life and the lives of others.

Wrapping It Up: Brock's Lessons for All of Us

Talking with Brock was a real eye-opener. This guy went from being bullied as a kid to becoming a college basketball star and an inspiration to many. His story shows us that real confidence comes from within – it's not about what others think of you, but how you see yourself and how you treat others.

Brock's journey teaches us that our biggest challenges can become our greatest opportunities to grow and make a difference. As he put it, "The definition of greatness... it's to make others around you better."

So, whether you're facing your own challenges or just looking to level up in life, take a page from Brock's playbook. Build that inner confidence, use your experiences to help others, and remember – true greatness isn't just about personal success, it's about lifting up those around you.

Keep pushing forward, and don't forget to spread some of that fresh courage wherever you go!