Curveballs – can help us or hurt us – that is a great way to think about things. I can either hit things out of the ballpark or miss and try again. Home runs don’t happen every day, but they can happen more often with practice. That is why when you miss, you can keep on trying!
When we practice, we learn what didn’t work and what will work. We think about the ways in which we can make things better. A curveball is sent to the batter, he can either swing or let it go to the catcher. Maybe he sees how the ball came in – fast, inside, outside, low or high. Maybe the ball is outside the batters’ box – the pitcher must be right on to make the batter swing.
Sometimes we wait to see how things could be. Waiting is a terrible thing to do. Why do you ask? What if by waiting, we miss the opportunity to get better or we miss hitting the home run we have been wanting to hit all along. Another way the opportunity comes to you, curveballs – can help us or hurt us.
I took a few chances in the last couple of weeks. Heck, my hubby and I both did. We didn’t know what the outcome would be, but we were betting against the odds and looking to hit it out of the park.
Being scared is easy – your mind makes up all kinds of reasons for not doing something. It is constantly looking for reasons to keep you safe. I have been reading a lot and listening to experts tell me one thing – Your brain is hardwired to keep you safe. It is constantly on the lookout for the proverbial saber tooth tiger, the savage in the next village, or the approaching dangerous weather.
Decisions are so tough when you have the emotions that go along with the outcome. If we can make our decisions without emotions, many of us wouldn’t be in the turmoil that we are in. We always want what is best and our FEAR takes us to levels of uncertainty that can only be soothed or escalated after we have made that choice.
We are creatures of fight or flight. Our brains are hardwired to always look for the enemy – in this case, the what-ifs that might have bad outcomes. If we didn’t have to think about the emotional toll for any of our decisions – life would always be a thrill ride. Yes, a thrill ride. Taking those plunges and climbing those mountains – because we can and that is what we chose at the time, without fear.
We don’t need to worry about those things anymore. We need to tell our brain that we can do the things we want and learn from the failures. Making our choices safer – doesn’t allow us to learn and grow from them. Granted, I do not want people to make decisions that will harm them or anyone else, in an incapacitated way.
We spend months, sometimes, in trying to decide what are the what-ifs. We have others to consider all the time. It is never a one and done decision. We have to make choices that not everyone agrees with but the best choice has to be made. We can’t sacrifice one without changing the fate of the others – curveballs – can help us or hurt us.
I love trying new things that I would have never dreamed about trying. The interests may have come from a family member or friend. I might have put a lot of time in at first and then walked away or I may still be dabbling in week after week.
Going back to the batter – what are his choices? Swinging and hitting, swinging and missing, or watching the ball go to the catcher and hope the call is foul and walk to first base. I enjoy at least taking a couple of chances and seeing if I can connect. Letting the pitcher know I am not scared to try. Learning that I can hit the ball, make that one connection, to get to first base or circle the mound, is all I need to know that I can do it and will do it.
That is not a failure and I am no longer scared.
I read a saying once -“Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life.” – Robin Sharma – http://www.robinsharma.com/ has some great insights.
Mix it up. Try something new – even if it isn’t on a grand scale. Make it count and chalk it up to new experiences. Choose to live a life well-lived. Opportunity knocks all the time. What door do you want to walk through next? Where will your life lead you? A curveball can help you or hurt you. When will you swing?