“You have to learn how to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.” – Lou Piniella

The key word here is “learn,” no one in this life born already knowing how to deal with stress or adversities in life.  Plus we really don’t like being uncomfortable, because well…it’s uncomfortable! However through the understanding and belief that we can choose how we will react to stress, adversities, and pain is where true learning happens. It does not just happen overnight. It is a repetitive dedication to be self-aware mindfully and non-judgmentally in times of ease and times of stress, in times of calm and in the storm, in the moments of pain and in the comfort of health, in all and every moment. Being fully aware gives us rich data on our reactions, emotions, and experiences, so when an uncomfortable moment presents itself you will have mastered the knowing of your possible reactions, anticipate the possibilities, and then be able to effectively choose how you want to deal with it.

“The time to prepare isn’t after you have been given the opportunity. It’s long before that opportunity arises. Once the opportunity arrives, it too late to prepare.”  -John Wooden (A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court)

We know that at some point in sport and in life pain will present itself, and we can’t always control that, however each time it presents in our life we are provided an opportunity to learn, to choose to grow, and progress. That is not to say that it will be easy, but that is to say that you will always have a choice. If we do not fully accept to choose then we are prone to continue the patterns of the past and recreate the same experiences.

• Remember that the point of power is always in the present moment.

• Remember that you are an amazing human BEing with the freewill to choose.

• Remember that there is always someone rooting for you to shine and be your best self:)

Have a great weekend and shine on my friends! FYI, I think you all are awesome and I appreciate you taking the precious time in your life to read this post. It’s all you!