Perspective is Key
As athletes, we experience both the positive and negative sides of sports. Although the victories are sweet, itâs always the losses or mistakes you feel the most. After a mistake or a loss, itâs so hard to see anything but the negatives in that moment. Sometimes the mistake or loss is so heavy in our minds, it snowballs into an ongoing cycle that we canât break. In softball and baseball terms, these cycles are called slumps.Â
During my sophmore year of college, my team had made it to the Womenâs College World Series (WCWS). Itâs everything a softball player works for. To have an opportunity to play in a WCWS and possibly win a national championship, was every softball playerâs dream. Although it was a breath-taking moment, I was entering my first WCWS with the longest slump of my career. I hadnât gotten a hit for the last 24 at-bats before entering the series. I was so nervous that my slump continued for the entire first game of the series.Â
Moving into our second game, I remember going into the bathroom to calm my nerves. I was reflecting on everything I had done wrong up until that moment, and I found myself crying from the disappointment. As I heard more and more of my teammates lacing up their cleats and putting on their uniforms, I realized I was going into what could be the last game of my sophmore year. I rememeber walking out of the bathroom and seeing my seniors pumping everyone up. They were cheering, banging on the fence, and getting everyone ready for battle. Seeing them give every ounce of themselves to get us ready changed my entire perspective. I was crying about this being the last game of my sophmore year, while this game couldâve been the last of these seniors entire career. Were they in the bathroom crying? No. They were cheering everyone on and making sure we were ready to play.Â
I changed my perspective and found something to play for. I no longer wanted to do good for myself, but for my team. I wanted to win so my seniors could have another game to play. As the game started, I felt different. I wasnât thinking about my slump or my nerves, all I could think about was playing hard for my seniors. It lit a fire in me that changed my entire game. As I stepped into my first at-bat, I felt fearless. I knew I had something to play for and it gave me the confidence I needed. I ended up hitting a homerun to win the game for my team and we moved into the semi-finals of the WCWS.Â
As I reflected on the game, I realized how changing my perspective helped me not only break my slump, but also break the fear I had of making a mistake. My focus was so clear that the past mistakes, nerves, and anxiety had no room in my mind. I was only focused on doing my best for my seniors. By changing my perspective, my mind was clear, my focus was clear, and my confidence was restored. Many times in sports, itâs very hard to change our perspectives. Athletes get so caught up in the mistake or loss, the focus is all about them. When youâre able to change your perspective, youâre able to see your losses as lessons. Youâll start finding the postives in negative situations, and youâll see how changing your perspective changes your entire game.Â











