My game is based on improvisation. Often, a forward does not

Ronaldinho, the magician of the footballing world, once revealed the secret of his art: “My game is based on improvisation. Often, a forward does not have the time to think too much. You have a second, rarely more, to decide whether to dribble, shoot or pass to the right or left. It is instinct that gives the orders.” In these words lies not only the wisdom of sport, but the wisdom of life itself. For the field of play is a mirror of existence, and the choices we face are often made in the blink of an eye, when reason falters and only instinct can speak.

The ancients knew the sacred place of instinct. They called it by many names—the voice of the gods, the whisper of the soul, the guidance of the heart. For when time does not grant counsel, it is this inner fire that directs our steps. Just as Ronaldinho upon the pitch could not pause to calculate every outcome, so too in battle, in love, in crisis, man must sometimes act without hesitation. The one who trusts his instinct moves with freedom; the one who doubts it is frozen, and the moment is lost.

Ronaldinho speaks of improvisation, the art of creating in the moment. This is not recklessness, but mastery. For improvisation is born of discipline—hours of practice, years of repetition, countless failures and triumphs that sink so deeply into the body that action becomes natural. When the moment comes, the player does not “decide” as if reading from a book; the body remembers, the spirit leaps, and instinct commands. Thus, what looks like magic is in truth the fruit of labor hidden beneath the surface.

History gives us echoes of this truth. Consider the great general Alexander at the Battle of Gaugamela. The enemy outnumbered his forces, and there was no time for endless calculation. He trusted his instinct, saw the narrow opening, and with a sudden strike carved victory out of impossible odds. Like Ronaldinho weaving past defenders, Alexander seized the moment that hesitation would have destroyed. Improvisation, guided by instinct and fortified by training, became the path to triumph.

There is also a lesson here in trusting oneself. Many in life falter not because they lack skill, but because they hesitate, doubting their ability, weighing too many options until the chance is gone. Ronaldinho reminds us that life rarely gives us hours to choose; often it grants only a breath. In that breath, instinct speaks, and the wise obey. This is not only true for the athlete, but for the artist with brush in hand, the leader in crisis, the parent guiding a child. All must at times act not from perfect knowledge, but from the deep river of instinct flowing within.

The wisdom for us is this: prepare your spirit and body through practice, discipline, and learning. But when the decisive moment arrives, do not be paralyzed by overthinking. Trust your instinct, for it is the voice shaped by all your preparation. Take the shot, make the pass, step into the unknown. Even if you falter, you will grow, for instinct that is exercised becomes sharper with every trial.

Therefore, let Ronaldinho’s words echo as both inspiration and command: live with improvisation, trust your instinct, and act with courage in the moment. Do not fear the fleeting second when choice appears, for in that instant lies the chance for greatness. Remember that hesitation breeds regret, but action, even imperfect, carries the soul forward. On the field of life, as on the field of play, the ones who shine are not those who wait for certainty, but those who dare to trust the fire within and move when the moment calls.