Transitions Reveal Our Character and Create Opportunities!

“Success is never final, failure is never fatal, it’s the courage to continue that counts.”
John Wooden

Raise your hand if you love change!!!

Change can be a funny thing. In competition, change can be great. Catching your opponent leaning in one direction, while you go the other past her. Or the quick counterattack that leads to a goal. Or the turn in the pool that created a split-second gap giving you the edge in the last lap. Change is great and it can also be your downfall, especially when you are on the other end of the competition and you are in the losing position. 

In those brief moments of unknown or uncertainty, what anchors you to make the most of the change and shifts in sport and life?

Often when we experience transition and change, something inside of us is highlighted or triggered more likely, and in that brief moment of the unknown, we have a choice in how we respond. The power and strength of your response comes from preparation, confidence, and courage.

These three essentials are integrated within one’s ability to engage and wrestle with the unknown and come out on the other side of transition. 
 

Preparation 

I love the saying that “the more I prepare, the luckier I get” – and there are a few greats that have shared this motto or something similar: Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, and Michael Jordan to name a few. There is something to the impact of preparation as you step into transition and change. You may not fully know everything, but you know enough and recognize enough of the situation – because of your preparation – to continue to move forward and walk confidently into the new spaces created by the change. 

Confidence

Legendary track star, Carl Lewis, said “If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win.” Confidence gives you an edge, even in the midst of shifting momentum or change out of your control on the court. Confidence gives you that extra push to keep moving, seeking out the light as you are covered by darkness. 

Courage

Where there is no fear, there is nothing of value. We can’t be controlled by fear, but you use fear as an indicator that you are on the cusp of something significant. Your pursuit of that success comes on the tail end of overcoming fear and courage is not having or experiencing fear, but continuing to move forward in spite of the fear around you. Mohammed Ali shared that “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” Your life matters and has significance and as humans, we are designed and created with meaning. Don’t allow fear to limit or squelch the power of your impact in our world, be courageous today!

Transitions can be and are often unpredictable and create these moments of chaos, unknown, and uncertainty. However, they also create opportunities and circumstances to level up that we were unable to experience or see previously to that moment. So make the most of the transitions in sport and in life. Utilize these three essentials: preparation, confidence, and courage, and make the most of your transitions today!

Jonathan