Have You Ever Had A Bad Tournament?
Ok picture this...
In your first match of a big tournament wearing the libero jersey, you just can't get a read on this team, and you end up having one of your worst matches of the season.
This leads to you quickly being told to switch your jersey and you painfully accept your fate as DS or maybe a serving specialist for the rest of the day.
But then on the second day of this big qualifier, you get another shot and are told you're going to split time with the other libero through the pool play matches that morning.
Yesssssss! You are back!
But then, about half way through the second match, you make a diving play to save a ball off the block only to roll your ankle after an awkward landing...
Once again, you are forced to come out of the game, give up your spot, and watch from the sidelines.
So are you wondering what happens next?
Feeling Down Lately? Watch This!
Today we're going to introduce the concept of Amor Fati, and how it can help you stay grateful for whatever situation you're currently in this season.
Essentially, it means "to love one's fate" and stay grateful for the present moment.
So many times, as athletes, we want to reject "what is" in the moment simply because we assume it's not aligned perfectly with "how we want it to be."
I remember one club tournament showing up to the gym and being told to wear the DS jersey to start the day, and I was not happy...
It's normal to initially want to resent, resist, and close yourself off to the pain and discomfort of what is happening, but when we do this, we are unable to truly learn from that moment and evolve as an athlete.
Instead of always hiding or suppressing these feelings and emotions, we need to acknowledge them, learn from them, and grow from each new experience.
And thinking back on my career, some of my best and favorite moments actually came from darkness...
These things can be very difficult to go through in the moment, and it's not fun to feel some of these emotions as you're trying to compete at a high level.
Sometimes it can be much easier to escape, express, complain, or suppress these emotions, but this can actually be exactly what you need to go through to evolve into the highest version of yourself.
Because remember, you can't control the circumstances outside of you...
But you can always control your perception!
- You can surrender to it
- You can accept it
- Or you can even choose to love it
Then instead of being something negative, it becomes a friend and an ally that you can use in your journey to that highest version of yourself.
Because now you can take complete ownership and responsibility for where you are, even though it's not always going to be exactly where you want to be.
Throughout my career, I've always been a big fan of journaling and meditation because of what they can do to help change your perception.
Which is also why I'm so excited to launch the new mindset and journaling course inside The Libero Academy.
See The New Mindset & Journaling Course Here
The libero position seems like a constant failure vs. perfection battle, but does it always have to be so black and white?
We should be able to fail, but still keep our confidence and clarity in our game.
Meditation and journaling have had such a big impact on my career, and I can't wait to teach how these things can help your game.
It's time to build your mental pillar and approach these tough situations with a whole new perspective.
You deserve to have a plan with how to overcome this natural ebb and flow that is bound to happen throughout the season.
Keep working!
Dustin