How does your team define one bad game?
The “boys of summer” (as professional baseball players are affectionately referred to in the U.S.) are here to remind us that it’s a sin to let your past define you.
The other night the Minnesota Twins were ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers 7-0. And then disaster struck: The Brewers scored 8 unanswered runs – to win the game 8-7.
If you’re a Twins fan (like me), this sort of tragedy could mean the end of summer. But you’re better than that – aren’t you?
The next night the Twins came back and won, 9-7. One of their best players, Michael Cuddyer, summed up the second game: “If you’re not able to put one particular game in your rearview mirror, you’re not going to have too much success.” (source: http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=310703109)
(By the way, Cuddyer happens to be Minnesota’s lone All-Star player this year. Think there’s a correlation between his mindset and his results?)
It’s a long season. (Your career is a long season. The project your team is engaged in may take two seasons.) Who will be the all-star on your team that will stand up and say, “You know that ‘loss’ we suffered earlier? It’s time to put that game in the rearview mirror. Success lies ahead.”
Get over it. (As my wife reminds me.) The past is the past. Ask your team: What event from last week will not find a place in this week?
You are so right when about the fact that we should not let the past define us. We can learn from the past and appreciate all that has happend along the way (and have regrets) but we should be focused on moving forward. It is hard to do because even though we do not like it, the past has a way of creeping back. What I try to do and most of the time I am successful is say “STOP” when the past tries to creep in and definelty try and move me to the wrong side of the energy map. I have started saying I choose what path I am on and I choose to move forward and remember what is working and why it is.