What does it mean for you to stay in the game and play to win?

The magnificent coach who I apprenticed under when I first started coaching asked me once if I was willing to stay in the game and play to win? And if so, what would I do?

She asked me this because she had seen me repeat the same cycle of hitting a certain level of success and then taking my foot off the gas and falling back to a place where I had sufficient fear and anxiety to motivate myself again. I was tied of living that way, but I didn’t know how to change it.

Here’s the answer I eventually came up with:

If I loved myself, what would I do?

I’d stay in the game and play the win.

If I were staying in the game and playing to win, what would I do?

Connect and serve without attachment knowing I’ll be fine either way because I love myself and I’m staying in the game and playing to win.

I would boldly share and make offers and invitations to conversations without expectations or fear.

I’d allow myself to know that I can trust myself and I can trust life to support me.

And I would show up every freaking day and do my part because winners win and that’s who I choose to be.

Now let’s talk about pro basketball. I often use basketball in my analogies because it’s really the only sport I ever played. I made the team because I was tall, but I was second string because I run like a ballerina!

But let’s not let that take away from the power of the analogy. Have a look at the image of these professional basketball players on the second tile. I pretty much guarantee you every single one of them is focused on “Get the ball. Take the shot”

Not one of them is saying to themselves “ I haven’t scored yet. That last shot didn’t work out, so I must be a terrible basketball player”

They are focused on what they can do to get the points and the results they want. And that’s what you must do as well.

What you focus on grows. So if you are focused on what’s not working you will magnify that to the point where you can’t see anything else. And then it will become harder and harder to take the shot.

So, let me ask you what my coach asked me: what does it look like for you to stay in the game and play to win?

Are you willing to do that?

Feel free to borrow all or part of my affirmation above. Of course you’ll have to take action too, but priming your brain with these thoughts will give you the mindset shift you need to become someone who stays in the game and plays to win.

Want some help with playing to win? Let’s talk.