It’s funny sometimes to see and listen to how different individuals perceive different situations. On the baseball field it’s no different and many times I’ve discovered that it’s these perceptions that lead to both good and bad performances and how athletes approach different situations on the field or how they approach their work habits. Take some of the best athletes of all time, the Kobe Bryant’s, the Derek Jeter’s, and the Tom Brady’s of the world. What allows them to perform in situations that cause other athletes to fail? The situations are the same but they simply perceive the situation completely different then say a lesser athlete.So where am I going with this? Well, I want to challenge you to look at the way you do things on the field in a completely new light. I want you to change the way you see things in order to maximize the infinite potential you have. Many times simply changing the way you look at things will completely change your ability to execute mechanics, it can change the way you feel (eliminating fear of failure, etc.), and it can drastically improve your athleticism.
We live in a “doing” society. What I mean is we have this belief that people who are currently experiencing more success than we are must be doing more then we’re doing. They must be working harder, trying harder, or playing harder than we are, I mean what else can explain their extraordinary level of success? This belief then shapes how we practice and play. We begin to play harder, try harder, or work harder. We put more effort into what we are doing in the hopes that this will allow us to reach the same level of success that the other person has reached. We use words and phrases that confirm our perceptions. We say things like, “He really stepped it up!” “That guy raises his game to another level in clutch situations!” and “They just wanted it more then we did!” All of this leads us to believe that the great athletes have another level. That they choose to try just a little harder in pressure situations and that is enough to propel them to their levels of success. As if the guy on the other side doesn’t want it or isn’t trying. These perceptions lead to numerous athletes trying hard, working hard, and playing hard and when they don’t reach the levels of success they desire to reach they try harder and harder and harder only producing worse and worse results.
Just for a moment lets consider that our perceptions are completely wrong. Let’s try and see the other side of the coin. What if players who excel in clutch situations aren’t taking it up another notch at all? What if everyone around them is trying harder and working harder and they simply stay the same? What if instead of the clutch athlete speeding up they actually slow themselves down? I know, I know, “But Ryan we see these guys move faster and perform better then everyone else on the field.” Yes, I know, but I’m asking you to ask yourself, “How is it they’re able to do this?” Consider for a moment that clutch players don’t speed up, they slow down in an effort to keep their muscles and mind relaxed. Maybe everyone around them is speeding up, exerting more effort, and as a result becoming slower and more inefficient. Maybe the clutch athlete stays the same as they are in practice while everyone else is trying to take it up a notch.
Sounds crazy right? But think for a moment about your own performance. Why is it that in a cage with no one around you can hit like Albert Pujols but then can’t translate that to the field? What has changed? The goal is still the same, you still need to execute your mechanics the same, but yet you’re unable to have the same level of success you had in the cage. The only thing that has changed is your perception of the situation. Maybe scouts and recruiters are around and you want to show them that you can play at the next level. Maybe your coach is around and you want to show him that you deserve to start. Whatever the case might be, the only thing that has changed is your perception of the situation. In order to perform at the same level that you are capable of all you need to do is change the way you perceive the situation or change the way you perceive how you need to handle the situation. Instead of trying harder make a conscious effort to slow yourself down. Take your focus away from “doing” and bring it more toward “allowing”. Allow yourself to be successful, allow your mechanics to work and produce the results that you desire.
I encourage you to try and question the perceptions you have created. Try and see the other side of the coin. Maybe the reason you aren’t having the success you desire is not because you aren’t “doing” enough, maybe it’s because you are “doing” too much. Be willing to change the way you do things. Remember one of my favorite quotes, “If you do things the way you’ve always done them, you will get the results you’ve always gotten.” ~Tony Robbins
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