Nate Shelley & the Danger of Self-Loathing

Nate Shelley (played by Nick Mohammed) in “Ted Lasso”

“Hurt people hurt people.”

– Yehuda Berg

Have you watched the TV show, “Ted Lasso?”

If not, I highly recommend it.

Since a great deal has already been written about the show, I am focusing this blog on the Nate Shelley character…and what he can teach us about the danger of self-loathing.

Before I get to Nate, here’s a snapshot of the “Ted Lasso” show:

Ted Lasso is an American college football coach who is hired to coach an English soccer team, in an attempt by the team owner to spite her cheating ex-husband. Lasso, however, has absolutely no experience coaching soccer…which is precisely the point. The team owner wants Ted to fail, so that her ex-husband’s beloved team fails. Ted, of course, doesn’t know this.

I suspect one of the reasons the “Ted Lasso” show is so popular is because Ted Lasso is an awesome guy! Ted (played brilliantly by Jason Sudeikis, who is also one of the show’s co-creators) is sweet, kind, funny, considerate, compassionate, a little geeky and a lot humble.

Not much phases Ted — at least not for long. He’s like a Timex watch…takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’. Ted is beyond positive…and genuinely believes in the goodness and potential of others…