New Year’s Perspective
Here’s a different perspective for your 2019. Going into the New Year, so many people have their resolutions of what they are going to do different or better than what they did last. Maybe you have your “One Word” that you’re going to live by. There’s nothing wrong with any of that. I wish you the best in sticking to your resolutions or “your word.”
We want you to think about something else. Who are you? What is important to you? Why are those things important to you?
Whether you’re a player, coach, parent, or you don’t fit into any of these categories, we believe that knowing what is important to you is more important your resolutions or your words.
Can you answer these questions?
- Who am I?
- What is important to me?
We talk to a lot of people who really struggle with answering these two simple questions.
Who am I?
Knowing who you are is vital. We are all constantly trying to figure that out, but some of us take some detours in that process. We spend a lot of time trying to be someone else or worrying about what someone else thinks about us. Do you know your strengths and weaknesses? Do you know the things that you have that you can build on and do you know the things that hold you back?
What is important to me?
This turns into us trying to figure out what is important to us. What do you believe in? What things are most important to you? These answers to these questions look very different if you’re a coach or if you’re a player. However, these questions remain the same. If you don’t really know what is important to you, then you’ll end up floating through life. Your decisions will be based on what someone else thinks is important. Why do you play basketball? Why do you coach basketball?
There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. Do you play because your friends play? Maybe you just like playing basketball. Maybe you want to earn a scholarship. Do you play to please your parents? Maybe you like to be on a team. Do you think basketball will help you be famous? Maybe you like to compete. Some people play to stay out of trouble. Maybe you play to stay in shape. Is basketball a way for you to provide for your family? There are so many more reasons why people play basketball. The question is do the things that are important to you line up with the reasons that you play. There are always pros and cons to every decision. It’s all about knowing what’s important to you and why you do it.
Coaches should ask themselves the same questions. Why do you coach basketball? Again there are so many different answers to these questions. There is no right or wrong answer, as long as it’s not illegal or immoral. It’s just all about knowing what is important to you and why you coach.
An Inspired Perspective
Once you can answer these questions, now your resolutions and “one word” have meaning and purpose. Your perspective changes. You’re not motivated to do something. You’re inspired to do it. A motor runs out of gas. Inspiration comes from deep within. This is a powerful perspective. When you’re truly inspired, you will figure it out. You might fail 100 times along the way, but it won’t stop you. Now you’re not doing it because someone else thinks it’s a good idea. You’re doing it because you believe in it.