Put it on the Shelf

My team team starts tournament play this week. We have had a pretty successful regular season and are excited about the start of tournament play. We had the most regular season wins in a while and finished 5th in a very competitive conference. We had a player achieve 1000 points for her career and all conference honors were awarded this weekend. But as we enter tournament play, we talked to the team about putting those accolades on the shelf. We don’t want to ignore or minimize them-we simply set them aside for now. There will be time to reflect later and celebrate all of the successes.

It demands a “next play mentality” but also putting past successes and failures on the shelf.

For sports teams, past success guarantees nothing and past mistakes define nothing. As we said last week, every team except one will end tournament play with a loss. That reality can create fear — or it can create focus. When we put the regular season on the shelf, we frees you up to not have to live up to a record. We don’t need to be anxious about trying to prove something we’ve already proven. We simply compete for the next possession, the next defensive stop, the next shot. We have an opportunity that all other teams have-the chance to advance and continue to keep playing.

The idea of putting something on the shelf and moving forward — is more than a tournament strategy. It is a life skill.

In life, we carry wins and losses the same way we carry them in sports. We hold onto compliments too long, or we replay mistakes too often. We define ourselves at times by our past success, or we allow past failure to limit future courage to try something new or moving on from current problems. Learning to place something on the shelf is not denying it happened; it’s discipline. It’s the ability to say, “That moment mattered, but it does not run my life..” It allows us to celebrate successes and put aside disappointments without becoming complacent and to learn without becoming discouraged.

When we develop the skill of shelving and moving forward, our quality of life improves. We become less anxious about protecting our feelings and become less caught up by fear of repeating a mistake. We become more present in conversations. More focused in our work. More resilient in setbacks. We stop living in what was and start focusing on where our feet are and in what is. That in itself reduces stress, builds confidence, and brings peace. In tournament play, these are great reminders for players, coaches, and even parents supporting their athletes.

What items do you have in your life that you could “put on the shelf” to revisit at a later time that would make your life better and help you focus on the next play? I challenge you to look for something to set aside this week that has been getting in the way of improving your life and that has been keeping your focus on the wrong things.

So as we step into tournament play, we are thankful for the regular season that shaped us and thankful for the opportunity still in front of us. We set the accolades on the shelf for now. We don’t carry them onto the court. What we carry is gratitude for the journey, put trust in our preparation, and focus on the next play. I hope you will do the same in your everyday life!

Have a great week!

Coach K