You step up on the approach. Ball in your hand. And nobody watching knows what you carried in with you.
I think everybody has competed while struggling emotionally at some point.
Maybe it’s something going on outside of bowling. Maybe it’s doubt within yourself. Maybe it’s comparison. Maybe it’s a slump that just won’t let go.
There’s always something to ward off and fight.
That’s the part of this sport nobody sees on the scoreboard.
Go all in
I made a lot of changes to my game in college.
Any time you make changes like that, it makes you doubt whether it’s the right choice. The results don’t show up right away. Every bad shot feels like proof you got it wrong.
But you really just have to jump. Go all in. Believe in it, even when it’s not obvious yet.
That can be really emotional. It’s a lot to handle on the lanes.
Both are true
So do you push through, or do you step back?
I think both can be true at the same time.
When you make a decision, you have to go all in. Or it’s not going to pay off.
But you also need to step back and remember why you’re doing it in the first place. What it will lead to. How it fits in the big picture.
Push through to get through the hard days. Step back to remember why they’re worth it.
Both are true.
Lead with vulnerability
So how do we take the stigma out of struggling in competitive sports?
I think the answer is leading with vulnerability.
Not being afraid to be human. To make mistakes. To try things that don’t work.
We’re so concerned with what other people think about us that it shields us from moving forward. We’re too afraid. What if it doesn’t work out? What will people think?
When we lead with vulnerability, that fear loses its grip. And everyone around us gets permission to be human too.
You are not alone
If you’re struggling quietly right now, I want you to hear this. You are not alone.
So many people have battled the same way you’re battling. You just don’t see it.
If we all talked about it, you would.
You don’t have to be alone in it. Reach out. Be vulnerable. Talk about it. You’ll see that other people are going through the same thing.
It’s okay to not be okay. And you can still show up.
Who could you reach out to this week?
If you’re carrying something heavy onto the approach, that’s exactly the kind of thing we work on in 12 Frames to a Stronger Mental Game. One-on-one, built around you.