How I Use Self-Talk to Overcome Myself....

Hey Team...

Happy Monday....

Hope you all had an awesome weekend....

Last night I flew down to Florida and am excited to catch up on some youth baseball down here... watching some of the top players in the country get together in Jupiter, FL to compete in front of scouts from all Organizations....

This reminds me of when I used to play ball... and at times, it was a so much fun... but other times, it was very nerve wracking...

Yup.

Sports can be nerve-wracking. 

You are out there.... and have to put your best self forward when everybody is watching....

You vs. The Pitcher....

The Pitcher vs. You....

Both teams and fan bases are rooting for their respective player....

Somebody has to WIN, Somebody has to LOSE.

Just hope it is not you...... (and that is where my problems began)

Playing defense even when I should be playing offense....

I was the hitter, but trying NOT to let my team down.....

Trying NOT to strike out....

Trying NOT to be the reason why our team lost...

You see, I was a team player... no doubt about it... and most of the pressure I put on myself was because I did not want to let my team down....

My team was not just my teammates on the field though...

It was my parents, my family, all the coaches that invested in me... everybody...

I was walking into the batters box trying to please all of these people... and ultimately, my mindset was overtaking by PRESSURE, and not on the moment and the true simplicity of hitting and playing the game.

Hitting, distilled down to it's most simple form is this:

See the ball, hit the ball. (if it is a good pitch)

When we make it more complicated than that, and bring our own baggage and emotional stress... we create distress....

We create an environment that is defensive, contracted, and one of playing it small...

But it does not have to be this way...

What I realized is you MUST play life as an OFFENSIVE PLAYER....

Defense does not win.

There will be times when we contract, think small, play small, and even become small....but do not think it has to stay that way....

Do not think this has to be permanent.....

So how do you get out of this position?

Well, what helped me the most... and continues to help me is SELF-TALK.

I am such a believer in this....

It has helped me through so many situations in life....

I tell people, I am afraid of many things in life.... but I am not afraid to get in the game and face the challenge.... 

Talking to myself. Coaching myself. Using positive, offensive sayings is really helpful.

"Let's GO..."

"Nobody knows this better than you"..

"Trust your gut"..

"One step at a time"...

"Keep it simple"...

These are some simple sayings I have used with myself....

Let's face it... not every situation we find ourselves in through our lives will be situations of comfort....

Growth means we have to be in a place and position we have not been before...

But, this is how we grow. 

Put yourself in an uncomfortable situation.

Execute.

Boom- that situation is no longer uncomfortable.

Could you imagine if you put yourself in more uncomfortable situations with the intent of getting more comfortable in more experiences? 

That is what it is about...

Life is an experience...

Live it. Enjoy it. Challenge yourself.....

Make the challenging call....

Send the challenging email...

Face the challenge..

Play offense on your life....

Your Coach,

COACH DANA CAVALEA