A Quote from Edison
“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”
These are the words of the great American inventor, Thomas Edison.
When Edison invented the practical incandescent light bulb, he reportedly tested around 6,000 different materials for the filament. After discovering that bamboo showed promise, he collected approximately 1,200 varieties of bamboo from around the world and continued experimenting. Eventually, he succeeded in creating a practical light bulb. It was such a revolutionary invention that people said, “Night disappeared from the world.” (Incidentally, the bamboo ultimately selected came from Yawata, Kyoto, and was used as filament material for more than ten years.)
Edison expressed, in a humorous way, two important truths: success requires failure, and perseverance is essential until success is achieved.
Preventing Your Spirit from Breaking
Life presents success and failure at random.
Success builds confidence, while failure becomes fuel for growth. However, if you become excessively pessimistic after failing, your spirit may break and you may give up on improving. To prevent that from happening, it is important to know both the habits that build resilience and the ways to cope when you feel discouraged.
1. Stay Calm and Steady
Make it a habit to approach things calmly and consistently.
People who experience extreme emotional ups and downs and become overly focused on immediate results waste a great deal of energy. As a result, their concentration does not last. They become mentally exhausted and are quick to give up when things do not go their way.
Do not lose sight of your fundamental purpose—Why do I play baseball?—or your ultimate goal—What do I want to achieve through baseball? By continuing steadily with those in mind, you can avoid falling into deep discouragement.
2. Think Logically
Everyone starts as a beginner.
No one achieves greatness without experiencing failure. If you eliminate the causes of failure one by one, you will inevitably move closer to success. At the very least, you will not move backward.
There is no night that never ends and no rain that never stops. The only option is to keep doing what you can, one step at a time.
And really, is your current situation as terrible as it seems? If you are thinking of giving up anyway, why not make one final attempt first?
By calmly examining the facts, you may discover opportunities or solutions that you previously overlooked.
3. Connect with Nature
Go and look at the vast ocean.
Climb a mountain and take in a magnificent view.
Leave the city and gaze at a sky full of stars while reflecting on the immensity of the universe.
Doing so will often make your problems feel much smaller and lighter.
It can also help to learn about those who, during wartime, gave up their dreams and went to the battlefield, or about people today who are suffering from war, hunger, or poverty somewhere in the world. Such perspectives can quickly dispel feelings of self-pity.
4. Learn How to Change Your Mood
Developing techniques for refreshing your mindset will make you more resilient in adversity.
The following example shows how your thinking might change after losing an important game. There is no need to rush; the time required varies from person to person. As your thoughts change, your mood will improve and your motivation will return.
Thoughts:
“I'm disappointed.”
“I'm frustrated.”
“My goal feels far away.”
“I hate myself.”
“I'm pathetic.”
“Why can't I perform better?”
“That was a game we could have won.”
“I'm angry at myself.”
“I'm embarrassed.”
“I feel miserable.”
“I don't care anymore.”
“Baseball isn't fun.”
“My efforts never pay off.”
“I don't think I'll ever win again.”
Mood:
Pessimistic, crushed, angry
↓
Thoughts:
“But there were some good plays.”
“I learned something valuable.”
“I understand the cause of my mistakes.”
“I found new areas to improve.”
Mood:
A feeling of relief
↓
Thoughts:
“I'll eliminate the causes of those mistakes in practice.”
“I'll work on my weaknesses.”
“If I practice correctly, at least I won't regress.”
“I'll move closer to my goal little by little.”
“The truth is, I'm already better than I used to be.”
“I want to be someone who does their best under any circumstances.”
“I want to become even better.”
Mood:
Feeling refreshed and encouraged
↓
Thoughts:
“It feels great when I perform in games the way I practiced.”
“Practicing while imagining success in games is enjoyable.”
“No one knows what I need to work on better than I do.”
“The training I need may be difficult, but it is worthwhile.”
“One day I'll laugh about this failure.”
“Nothing in life is wasted.”
“Everything is moving in a positive direction.”
“I'll keep challenging myself.”
“After all, I love baseball.”
Mood:
Optimistic, positive, motivated
5. Focus on the Process, Not the Result
Baseball is a zero-sum game: when one side wins, the other side loses.
The outcome itself cannot be controlled.
A pitcher may throw a perfect low-and-away pitch only to see it hit hard, while a poorly executed breaking ball left high in the zone may result in a strikeout. A batter may square up a ball perfectly and hit it directly at a fielder, while a weakly hit ball may drop safely between defenders.
Bad hops and even umpiring mistakes can influence the result of a game.
If you become obsessed with outcomes that you cannot control, anxiety and tension increase, leading to mental exhaustion. In the long run, this can even result in burnout.
What you can control is your process—how you think and how you act. That is where your focus should be.
Your goal should be to play with the attitude and conduct worthy of a champion.
Whether you win or lose, improving your process will always lead to growth. And that is the only legitimate way to increase your chances of ultimately becoming a winner.
PDF Link : 4. Resilience