This quote as well as the similar "Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game" have become popular motivational advice for young baseball players. Not only is it used for these young athletes though. Many people look to this quote when attempting to make decisions where rejection is a potential outcome. Whether you're applying for a job, looking for a significant other, trying to find new ideas at work, you need something or someone to remind you that it's okay that you didn't get what you wanted because there's other things, people, or ideas out there.
I am a nervous person. Applying for a new job and talking to a guy I like can become problematic, especially because I overanalyze everything. The second if not first scenario that comes to mind is yup, you've probably thought it at some point too, "what if they don't like me?" (whether it's the company, boy, etc.) Many times with this thought we remove ourselves from the game. You can't be rejected if you don't try. So the question becomes: is it better to have tried and have been rejected than to have never tried at all?
For me personally, I analyze the situation. If I'm happy or content with my life why try? I like the way things are going, why take the risk of being rejected and risk the unhappiness of feeling like I'm not good enough? If nothing's going right well then what the hell, I've got nothing to lose why not go for the gold? Go big or go home.
The problem is, I wish I didn't analyze the situation. I wish that I had the guts to take the risk every time. If I'm considering some option, then I'm probably considering it because I believe it would make me happy. Okay, so I might be content with life right now, but if things were to work out in my favor I would be that much happier. So by removing myself from the risk I may avoid rejection but could be missing out on happiness.
So here's where my question about this whole baseball analogy comes into play. In baseball, athletes practice to become better. They practice to avoid the strikeouts. Can we practice taking the risk? Whether it's teaching ourselves coping skills if we were to get rejected or making back up plans? Would it work by applying it to little options/situations in our lives and eventually working our way up to bigger ones?
I'm sick of chickening out and discrediting myself before I even take the chance. I know only I can change this, I just need to figure out the how. Everyone strikes out at some point, hell sometimes we're in a slump. But it's the recovery that counts. Do you have the guts, the courage, the mentality, and the will to make the come back? By removing myself from the game, I'm guaranteed to have no strike outs, but I could be missing out on my home run. So, it's game time. Put me in coach...I'm ready to play ;)
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