Turning Your Disappointment into Determination
Making a team is never guaranteed, but it’s all a part of the journey – the process of becoming great! How they react to set back and disappointment is what separates the “Greats” from all the rest. You may have just got cut from the basketball team, but consider this your chance to reset your mind and choose the path of becoming great….
To be honest, I believe you being here – choosing to read this article – is a sign that you are already choosing the path of greatness. I am so proud of you for this! And it’s my job to help inspire you to continue on that path by explaining exactly how the “Greats” would react in your exact situation…
Process Your Pain
You tried out for the basketball team, which means you obviously wanted to make it. Therefore, it is 100% normal to be sad and disappointed. The difference between those who still become great and those who don’t is whether or not they allow that disappointment to turn into determination or discouragement.
Process your pain; shed a few (or a lot) of tears; let your support system give you all the hugs you can handle. It’s okay to let yourself process the pain. And I know you’re in A LOT of pain. You know how I know that? Because I don’t think you would be here if you weren’t.
So, be glad that it hurts this much.
That may seem a little backwards, but hear me out – if it doesn’t hurt, then you probably never wanted it badly enough. And pain usually drives us to action, unless we sit and wallow in it too long – then it just turns to discouragement.
So be glad that it hurts this much. Be glad that you can feel the passion to play inside of you. Be glad that you were driven to the action of finding this article. Sit in the hurt – but not too long – and let your disappointment turn to determination.
Handle Comparison Positively
Disappointment can also lead to comparison. I do believe comparison is the thief of joy and I can sit here and tell you to avoid comparison, but the truth is, we’re all human and comparison is simply bound to find its way into our thoughts – especially after getting cut from a basketball team. So the best question to ask is, how would the “Greats” handle comparison in your situation?
The difference between those who still become great and those who don’t is whether they allow comparison to influence a positive or negative reaction; if you use comparison within a complaint rather than to motivate, then you’ve missed the mark and may as well say goodbye to greatness.
The decision was made and complaining in your head, or even out loud, will never change that. In fact, it will only make you more upset. So why do it?
Instead, choose greatness; let your comparison motivate you in fueling a determination to prove your belief of being better than that particular player the next time around.
Be Coachable
Naturally, that initial pain combined with that comparison moment may cause you to want to react towards the coach with anger. But, again, the best thing to do is process your pain as described above before anything else; take time to cool off. And once you do, that’s when you should approach the coach.
The difference between those who still become great and those who don’t is a) a respect for authority and b) a mature, coachable mindset.
Being coachable means you receive feedback without question and actually do something about it.
Coach says you need to improve your shot, then be determined to work on your shot. A coach’s feedback is your free roadmap to greatness. It’s up to you to choose what to do with it.
Process your pain and your feedback and be determined to do something with it.
Keep Working
Doing something with it means you make a conscious effort to work on your skills and grow your game. Well, if you take away nothing else from this article, please hear this: as long as you put in the work, the trajectory of your growth will be a steady upward slant and depending on how much work you put in, it could be at an even steeper slant! That is AWESOME!
Think about it: You are SO young. Okay, I might not know exactly how old you are, but even if you are 18 right now and you didn’t make your basketball team, you can STILL improve BY A LOT.
I’m about to turn 28 and I am STILL improving my game. That is 10 years older than 18! The amount of improvement I’ve had since I was 18 years old is almost comical. So truly, don’t be discouraged! Keep working!
The difference between those who still become great and those who don’t is whether or not they keep working no matter what the setback!
Turn your disappointment into determination and I’ll see you on the path to greatness!
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