the tuesday transition - issue 43
February 28, 2023: Here’s a cold, hard truth for you this wintry Tuesday morning –
Adversity is 100% guaranteed during your soccer journey. Meaning, it is not possible to get to the top of your game without obstacles and challenges getting in your way and tripping you up.
If you think otherwise, you are setting yourself up for a rude awakening at some point in your future (and hopefully sooner rather than later because the earlier you are able to understand this, the further you will be able to go).
When we talk about adversity, we are talking about anything and everything that doesn’t go swimmingly. Players, maybe that means a physical setback such as an injury or sickness, or maybe you got a new teammate that plays your position and is REALLY good. Maybe you got cut from a roster or are not getting much playing time. Maybe your motivation is lacking or you are dealing with a lot of overthinking and self-criticism. These are all difficult situations, these are all types of adversity.
We tend to think of adversity as a bad thing, but the secret here is that IT IS NOT. Overcoming all of these hard things is actually what PUSHES YOU FORWARD and takes your game to the next level. Finding your way THROUGH THE CHALLENGE, by holding yourself accountable to doing the work while at the same time being kind to yourself, is what will ultimately help you become a better, stronger, more confident, consistent player.
One of the best ways to become a more mentally tough, resilient soccer player who can handle adversity, is to spend time focusing on character development (who you want to be as a person). What I mean by this is, figure out what type of person you want to known as (examples: hardworking, competitive, positive, focused, accountable, brave, resilient, confident, enthusiastic, motivated, curious, creative, honest, respectful, humble, patient, appreciative, trustworthy, socially aware, caring, etc.) and then do the work to get yourself there. Because…
When players are given the space to learn about themselves and focus on identity and character development alongside their soccer game, they come to see that WHO THEY ARE AS A PERSON is ultimately what will drive their success in the long run.
Focusing on what type of person you want to be is what helps prepare you for hard moments. How does that work? Well – if you work hard to become more motivated, humble, caring, resilient and focused – is that going to make it EASIER or HARDER when it comes to facing and overcoming your next challenge? It definitely won’t make it harder.
WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON is what will help you get through adversity. Not your soccer skill. And because adversity is actually what pushes you forward and helps you level up your game, the connection can be made here that YOUR CHARACTER is ultimately what determines what type of player you will be and how much success you will have.
Players that understand this become their own guiding light, their own best inner coach. They become exactly who THEY need to reach the top of their game. They become who THEY need to maximize their potential in soccer and in life. They become who THEY need, period.
Till next week,
💎 What I’m digging: This great recap of the SheBelieves Cup which highlights the awesomeness of Mal Swanson, plus accurately describes the woes and needs of the USWNT as they inch closer to the World Cup.
👩🏽💻 What I’m reading: This NYTimes article about the mental health crisis that is facing today’s teenagers. Worth the read, lots of helpful information.
🎧 What I’m listening to: This week I started listening to the book Grit by Angela Duckworth – the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a special blend of passion and persistence called GRIT.
Grow your confidence through preparedness.
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Hi everyone! I’m Jenn and I create content to help female soccer players and coaches maximize individual and team potential by developing healthy mindset skills. Join other subscribers and sign up for the newsletter for all my best tips and advice!
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