Seeing is believing and believing is seeing.–Tom Hanks
We all have new routines and traditions to keep us grounded and focused as the tedium of the pandemic wears on. Mine involves a basketball, a hoop, and the perfect shot.
Every weekday morning, I wake up, put on an inspirational podcast, and take our dog, Parker, for a long walk around the neighborhood. It is the perfect way to clear my head, focus my thoughts, and prepare my mind for the grind ahead. But lately, I have added a new twist to my morning regimen.
One of several “pandemic projects” involved installing a new basketball hoop in our backyard. We originally conceived the idea as a way for the kids to enjoy some outdoor activity and blow off some steam during the dog days of online learning. But after a few months, the new basketball court suffered the fate of many well-intentioned projects. The novelty wore off and the hoop stood largely unused.
Looking to revive the enthusiasm for the hoop court, I recently added the ritual of perfecting my feathery jump shot to my morning routine. After walking the dog, I hop into our backyard, pull out a few basketballs and start shooting away. After thirty or so shots, I make a vow to end the session with a perfect swish. (Some mornings, it takes longer than others).
There is something comforting about having this last perfect image reinforce my mindset for the day. Seeing the ball fall effortlessly through the hoop builds my confidence and sends an understated message. Anything is possible and the perfect shot is out there!
And couldn’t we all benefit from that image in our work and personal lives.
Small Victories Add Up
In our work lives, we start off with confidence and enthusiasm. I can create this business and rise above the competition. I can win this case. I can sell this product. I can overcome the challenges in the classroom. I can rise up through the ranks of management. We pour ourselves into the task at hand and work hard to achieve our goals. But the journey to our ultimate destination is rarely smooth.
We will go on a losing streak. We will face unforeseen obstacles. We will lose. We will fail. These experiences drain us of our motivation and impact our confidence. If they persist, we start to forget what it feels like to win. Worse, we no longer expect to win! How can we refill our reservoir? What will stoke our resilience? We need to see the ball go through the hoop!
We need to believe that our goals are possible. And nothing reinforces that belief more than seeing it happen. The victories don’t have to be massive or life-changing. Sometimes the smallest accomplishments can restore our confidence. A positive meeting. A glowing review. A favorable decision. A new stream of revenue. Little successes build on each other. It doesn’t have to be a three-pointer at the buzzer to win the game. It could be a breakaway layup. But sometimes we just have to see the ball go through the hoop!
Action Breeds Confidence
And the same is true in our personal lives. Perhaps we have had our heart broken. Perhaps financial difficulty. Perhaps a loss of purpose. Whatever the crisis, these emotional setbacks can quickly erode our confidence. We retreat into our shell for protection. And soon we believe we will never find love, rewards, or passion in our lives. We stop shooting because we sense it will just result in another miss.
But this is when we need to shoot more! The more active we are, the more shots we take, the better our chances of making the perfect swish. And that will have a cascading positive impact on our confidence and mindset.
Keep Shooting
Seeing is believing, but what do we do when we can no longer see and we stop believing? We need to stay active and maintain a positive mindset. We need to keep shooting. It doesn’t take much to turn around a losing streak. It doesn’t take much to turn around a career, marriage, or financial situation. But it does take effort. And it does take a little faith.
We have come too far to quit the game. We just have to keep grinding until we see the perfect swish.