Choices

For the most part, life is pretty simple if you really think about it.  Almost every single aspect of our lives comes down to choices.  The greatest power each of us has is the ability to make choices.  Some choices are easy, like what to eat for breakfast, and others are more complex, like where to attend college.  But they are choices nonetheless. 
 
I had a player tell me one time, with a big smile as if he disproved this theory, “I didn’t choose for it to rain today.” “Of course not,” I said, “but you have the choice in how you let it affect you.”  Obviously you don’t control everything in this world, but you do control how you react and how you respond.  You don’t control it when you land on another player and sprain your ankle, when the ref makes a bad call or when your teammate turns the ball over during a critical point in the game.  But you certainly control your response to each of those situations. And that response is your choice.  When you sprain your ankle, do you pout about it and wallow in self pity?  Or do you follow the trainer’s orders to re-hab it, continue to be a good teammate from sideline during practices and games, and find others ways to contribute?  When the ref makes a bad call, do you mouth off or get mad?  Or do you put it behind you and move on to the next play? When your teammate turns the ball over, do you yell at him and use negative body language?  Or do you pat him on the back and make up for the turnover by playing extra hard on defense?
 
One thing that unites us all is that every one of us is a product of the choices we make on a daily basis.  Where ever we are in life, we are there as a result of the choices we have made.  If you are happy and successful, it is because of your choices. If you are unhappy and miserable, it is also because of your choices.  One of my favorite quotes of all time is, “Keep doing what you’ve been doing and you’ll keep getting what you’ve been getting.  If you don’t like what you’ve been getting than quit doing what you’ve been doing!” 
 
What kind of choices are you making now that the season has started?  Are you choosing to get plenty of sleep at night?  Are you choosing to eat breakfast every day?  Are you choosing to go in to practice early to get up shots? Are you choosing to practice as hard as you can, every day?  Are you choosing to be a good teammate?  Are you choosing to be coachable? Are youchoosing to stay positive, even after a tough loss? Are you choosing not to get complacent after a big win?
 
These are all choices.  Your answer to these questions will dictate the type of season you will have as well as the type of player you will be.
 
If you would like to contact me about this blog, my MVP Vertical Jump Training DVD, my training and/or camps and clinics, please email me atAlan@StrongerTeam.com.  I will respond as quickly as possible!
 
Train hard.  Train smart.
 
Alan Stein, CCS, CSCS