Playing goalie, in any sport, takes a special breed of person.  But a lacrosse goalie?  That is next level stuff.  Why anyone would welcome a hundred-mile an hour shot to the shins with a hard rubber ball is beyond me!  But for those who choose to take it on, all we can do is applaud.

As with any goaltender position, the mental part of the game is as important, if not more important, than the physical part.  The ability to have a short memory, stand tall in the face of adversity, and take on the next shot is the key to success.

Believe it or not, there is an entire sub-culture of psychology and literature dedicated to this art form.  In the book “Thinking Inside the Crease”, Christian Buck sums up the ideal mentality:

Start building the “Bring It!” mindset.  Let it overcome all your senses.  You want them to shoot.  It’s your day.  Bring it!

And how many of us could benefit by embracing that same mindset in our every day lives!

How Do You React to Adversity?

There will always be challenges in our work lives.

Massive competition.  Difficult customers.  Thorny legal issues.  Apathetic students.  Resistant athletes.

We can’t avoid the pitfalls and frustrations that impact our career.  But we can control how we react!

Do we ignore difficult customers or deal with their issues directly?  Do we give up on a complicated contract or do we work through the complex issues?  Do we engage our students or curl into a ball when they are not responding?  Do we get the most potential out of our athletes or do we write them off as “uncoachable”?

We can’t be afraid of the uncomfortable and overwhelming situations.  Sometimes we have to stare down that hundred-mile an hour shot!  If we welcome the challenges and deal with them head on, we WILL be successful.  Bring it!

Relationships Take Work

The same is true in our personal lives.  We all have to deal with sticky family issues.  We all have to cope with obstinate personalities.  We all have to break through communication gaps and misunderstandings.  At some point, we have to take that leap and express our true emotions.

We can’t shove our head in the sand and pretend these challenges don’t exist.  Sweeping anger and resentment under the rug will not foster healthy relationships.  Clear communication is the key.  Sometimes, we have to engage in a frank conversation and put ourselves out there.  If we want to grow closer, we can’t be afraid to risk it all.  Bring it!

The World Will Bring It Anyway!

But what happens when we adopt the “Bring It!” mindset and the world really does bring it!

We lose a series of deals!  Our company collapses!  Our students fail!  Our team goes on a losing streak!  We clearly communicate our feelings and still get rejected!  The goals pour into the net!

Even if we maintain a positive outlook and actively embrace every challenge, we will fail at some point in the journey.  But success will be determined by how often we can get back up and welcome the next challenge!

The “Bring It” mentality is not a one-time attitude.

The most innovative entrepreneurs have gone bankrupt.  The best salespeople have endured abysmal years.  The most influential teachers have had students drop out.  The winningest coaches have lost in the biggest of moments.  The most well-balanced relationships come under fire.  The best goalies give up shots.

Resilience Builds With Practice

If we are going to stay resilient, we need to constantly  summon the courage to fight again.  Resilience is a muscle.  The more we can put our setbacks behind us and continue to battle, the stronger we will be in the long run.  And the easier it will be to face our next great challenge!

Do not shy away from your challenges.  Take them head on and welcome the test.  You may fail.  You may get discouraged.  But if you can shake off that initial feeling and still move forward, you will outlast the competition.  You will be successful.

This is your time to shine.  Bring it!

Until next week, keep smiling!