Softball and Life - Dealing with Adversity
One thing I love about softball, and sports in general, is that it really can prepare you for challenges in life. Right now, my family and I are going through a bit of a challenging time with selling our house and buying another. We are in escrow to sell, but it seems like nothing is going the way that it should. There seem to be surprises and set backs at every turn. But somehow I know that everything will work out eventually even if it all takes longer than we originally planned. Even after the latest set back that I just found out this morning, I'm feeling rather peaceful about the whole thing. I'm not discouraged and I think a lot of my ability to stay positive and focused on the "big picture" comes from my experience with softball.
There are many times during a season or even just in the course of a game when things just don't go as planned, when your team faces unexpected challenges and obstacles. Yes, they can be frustrating, but in a way, I actually embrace this adversity. Why? Because if you can face these challenges head on and overcome these obstacles on the field, chances are that you can do the same in life. So when I see players working through problems and continue working toward their goals, I love it because I know that they will probably be just fine in the "real world." On the other hand, if they have a really tough time on the field, I worry because if they can't pull it off on the field, having fun playing a game they enjoy, how are they going to find a way in life? How will they be able to deal with adversity at work when they are at a job that they don't necessarily love or look forward to going to every day? How will they be able to face challenges in those types of situations when they can't even do it in a sport they love?
This is why teaching the attitude/mental part of the game is sooooo important to me. Those are the skills that really transfer into life. While throwing, fielding, and hitting mechanics are important and things that I'm quite picky on as well, it's really the "intangibles" that I like to see develop. You can have the best mechanics in the world at practice, but if your mind is not strong enough to allow your body to perform at it's peak in the game, it really doesn't matter how great you are in practice does it?
If you need help with this area of the game, sign up for a free mental game newsletter at GetSoftballConfidence.com.
There are many times during a season or even just in the course of a game when things just don't go as planned, when your team faces unexpected challenges and obstacles. Yes, they can be frustrating, but in a way, I actually embrace this adversity. Why? Because if you can face these challenges head on and overcome these obstacles on the field, chances are that you can do the same in life. So when I see players working through problems and continue working toward their goals, I love it because I know that they will probably be just fine in the "real world." On the other hand, if they have a really tough time on the field, I worry because if they can't pull it off on the field, having fun playing a game they enjoy, how are they going to find a way in life? How will they be able to deal with adversity at work when they are at a job that they don't necessarily love or look forward to going to every day? How will they be able to face challenges in those types of situations when they can't even do it in a sport they love?
This is why teaching the attitude/mental part of the game is sooooo important to me. Those are the skills that really transfer into life. While throwing, fielding, and hitting mechanics are important and things that I'm quite picky on as well, it's really the "intangibles" that I like to see develop. You can have the best mechanics in the world at practice, but if your mind is not strong enough to allow your body to perform at it's peak in the game, it really doesn't matter how great you are in practice does it?
If you need help with this area of the game, sign up for a free mental game newsletter at GetSoftballConfidence.com.
Labels: fastpitch softball, mental game, softball performance
posted by Stacie | 10:40 AM
1 Comments:
This is a great post! I play Club Softball for UGA, and I think that all my years of playing the game have helped me handle a lot of adversities that I have encountered. I know how to work with people, because I've grown up playing on teams working hard for other people, not just myself.
The challenges in life make us who we are in the end. Are you strong or are you weak, these are the moments that define us.
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