Goalkeepers in soccer play a unique role.
Not only are they the only players on the field that are able to touch the ball with their hands, but it’s often the most mentally-demanding position.
As a goalkeeper you can make as many impressive saves as you want, but the one goal that slips through your fingers is the one you remember the most.
The reality is that it’s human nature to make mistakes, and we really shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves when they inevitably happen. Things are not always going to go according to plan, and making sure that this doesn’t stop me from moving forward is what I am still working on.
A phrase that I have found helpful is from one of my favorite athletes Javier “Chicharito” Hernández. The Mexican soccer player said, “Let’s imagine great things” before the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The Mexican national soccer team was up against the 2014 World Cup winners, Germany, and no one really believed Mexico could win. Despite the odds, Mexico beat Germany 1-0 in their first group stage game.
They imagined great things, and great things happened. A positive attitude goes a long way in many uncomfortable situations that arise as we navigate our lives.
Of course, things aren’t always going to go according to plan, and doing our best is the only thing we can really do. There is no point in adding extra weight to a mistake that doesn’t need it. The important thing to keep in mind is how you’re going to pick yourself back up and try again.
When I first started broadcasting sports, I often found myself feeling unfulfilled with my performances. I would get this indescribable feeling that would follow me into bed and keep me up at night. A million different scenarios ran through my head as I circled around what I chose to say that day.
I would run through what I could have done better, things I could have said differently and which words I could have used instead.
There’s no point in beating yourself up everytime something goes wrong; the best that we can do is learn and grow. There’s a time and place for self-criticism, and I have been working on finding that time and not letting it bring me down while making improvements every time.
We’re not going to be able to make every save, so let’s start by imagining great things and not letting any missteps bring us down.
