"Sometimes things don't go your way," says Aaron Hayden. "You can't control everything in life. But as long as you control yourself, that's what you have to do."
Hayden has had cause to draw on this philosophy already this season. Until Saturday he had not kicked or headed a first-team ball for a month. As a sign of how things can quickly change in football - and the need to be ready at a moment's notice - he was called back into the side for Carlisle United's game at Scunthorpe United.
A memorable return it proved. Hayden scored the only goal as Carlisle chiselled out a 1-0 win, and provided some resolute defending along with his team-mates in order to earn the Cumbrians three very good points.
Mark Hughes said the centre-back was an exhausted but happy figure in the dressing room afterwards. Over to Hayden himself: "Yeah...my nervous system was just fried," he says. "I hadn't played 90 minutes in five or six weeks.
"I've been watching from the sidelines and had little issues that I've had to deal with. But I was just happy to come in and get three points."
Hayden fired home Archie Davies' corner in the 20th minute at Scunthorpe (Image: Richard Parkes)
Scunthorpe was only Hayden's fourth appearance of the season, and his third start. Considering his previous occasion in the XI was on the second weekend of the campaign against Boreham Wood, this has not yet been an ideal beginning to 2025/26 for the defender.
On facing the challenge of non-selection, with Bevis Mugabi, Terell Thomas and latterly Morgan Feeney ahead of him, Hayden says: "It's tough. There's a lot of things behind the scenes, you know? It's the tough part of football that people don't see, dealing with a lot of stuff.
"You've got to try and stay on top of your fitness, keep your mind right. But if you can't do that, then why are you in the business? I feel like I've done well to do that and I'm ready to always play."
Hayden, at Carlisle and his previous clubs, has long been a strong set-piece threat and he could have scored even before he volleyed home Archie Davies' corner in the 20th minute at the Attis Arena. It gave the Blues a platform against Scunhthorpe - and Hayden a moment to treasure.
"He [Davies] gave me one there - but he gave me two really," Hayden says. "That's all I need, really. When I missed the first one [a back-post header that went wide] I knew it was a golden opportunity and I didn't hit the target. So I said, 'If I got the next one, I know what I'm going to do. I'm going to execute better'.
"And I did. I'm so happy I did for the sake of the boys. Because when you get that one goal, it makes the game easier to manage and easier to control."
Little was easy at Scunthorpe, whether that be the physical punishment Carlisle took at times, or the appetite the ten-man hosts showed in an attempt to fight back in the second half.
Hayden also contributed to a resolute defensive performance as Carlisle prevailed at the Attis Arena (Image: Richard Parkes)
It spoke well of United's general resolve that they held off Andy Butler's team, who were unbeaten until Saturday. In the absence of Mugabi and Thomas to hamstring injuries, Hayden and Feeney guarded the castle well, supported by full-backs Davies and Cameron Harper and some good industry in front of them.
Hayden and Feeney could well now be the pairing for a period. Saturday's efforts, then, amounted to a reassuring start. "They [Scunthorpe] were tough, yeah," says Hayden. "Credit to Morgan. It was good to be next to him. He talked so much and he's a great defender.
"Credit the two boys outside of us too, Archie and Cam, and the boys in front - everyone. We defended as a team. There was a lot of running back from the boys and a lot of tackles in the second half."
Carlisle, in taking six points from games against Scunthorpe and Hartlepool United, have responded well to those troubling defeats to Rochdale and York City. They are a point from the top of the National League and in good order again as the FA Cup now lands on the agenda. After this weekend's fourth round qualifying tie, the National League returns with gusto, with a big home encounter against Forest Green Rovers.
On United go, deeper into this pivotal period. "It's been a good week, and we just have to keep going," says Hayden. "Keep doing the same things. We've bounced back from those two defeats really well. We're back on the horse and just have to keep riding it."
And regarding his own attempt to build on a much more enjoyable Saturday at last? "Same as," says Hayden. "Faith in God, and keep doing the right things as always."