Don’t Give Up on This Season’s Goals
Did you set meaningful goals for this baseball or softball season?
Goals are targets that provide you a sense of purpose and direction.
Goal setting is an effective strategy to keep you focused, motivated and energized to achieve a personal objective while overcoming obstacles along the way…The key phrase is ‘overcoming obstacles’.
Obstacles can be big or small, physical or mental, probable or unexpected.
The coronavirus is a big, unexpected obstacle that has challenged ball players mentally and physically. When you are faced with an extended time away from the field, it may feel like your goals are in jeopardy.
For example, how can you accomplish your goal of raising your batting average 10-plus percentage points if you cannot take extra batting practice with your hitting coach to adjust your swing mechanics?
Or how can you reach your goal of making your high school team when the season was cancelled before it even started?
Or how can you improve your accuracy as a pitcher if you have no catcher?
The obstacles are obvious in the previous examples. The coronavirus is something no ball player could have predicted.
Other obstacles exist that can also knock you off the path to your goals such as getting injured or being benched. These obstacles can leave you feeling anxious, frustrated, discouraged, demoralized and disappointed.
When you experience an obstacle, you may feel like you failed or that your goal is no longer attainable. You feel all your hopes and hard work went down the drain and think, “I will never accomplish my goal.”
You want to understand that goal setting is always in flux depending on your current performance and situation.
Instead of completely giving up on your goals, you should adjust your goals to meet the demands of your current circumstances. When you adjust your goals, you feel you still have something to work towards. When you adjust your goals, you will still feel your actions, practice and hard work matter.
Let’s revisit the example… The goal of improving your batting average 10-plus points can be applied towards summer or fall ball. You can stay focused on achieving this goal by hitting off the tee or visualizing successful at-bats.
The goal of making your high school team may not happen this year but you can still work towards making the team next year.
You may not be able to accomplish the goal of improving your in-game accuracy from the mound but you can work towards that goal by trying to hit a target in your backyard.
The disruptions caused by a global pandemic or some other obstacles are merely bumps in the road. Achieving your goal is a matter of creative adjustment.
Adjust Goals When the Season is Disrupted
Goals should always be in flux and adjustable. You change goals based on your current performance, or in today’s world, the current circumstances.
During these challenging circumstances, what adjustments can you make to stay focused and on track to accomplish your goals this summer or fall?
The answer to this question will give you a sense of purpose and keep you energized despite any obstacles.
Related Sports Psychology Articles
- How to Manage Thoughts and Emotions in Meaningful Games
- When Emotion and Intelligence Work Hand in Hand
- NY Mets Benefit From an Improved Mindset
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