If You Straddle The Plate, Then It's Time To Swing

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Eileen Rainier, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.

We’ve all walked up to the plate and been afraid to swing. In reference to baseball, it is clear that fear is often our worst enemy. But, if you look at it one base at a time, the hesitancy to swing at the ball will become weak enough that you take the leap of faith. This leap is necessary to finally make it to home plate, or in other words, to complete your task or goal.

Imagine if you never even tried and just let the pitcher strike you out without even swinging. That elusive success would never materialize. You’ve made it this far by setting a goal. Now take a chance and swing. Once you do that, you can make a run for first base!

Now that you’ve swung and scored a hit, getting to first base is a bit of a sprint. It takes the most effort and energy to build up the momentum necessary to beat the other team to base one. The great thing is, you don’t have to pace yourself because if you overshoot first base, you are still safe. So, give it all you’ve got and make that first short-term goal the most ambitious.

Say you made it safely to the first base. The next step is more strategic as you attempt to gain ground between first and second base before the pitch. Its not speed that gets you to the next short-term goal, it is being preemptive in your moves. In other words, being prepared for the next big success.

You can’t quite rest yet, as third base is the one place your competition doesn’t want you to get to. You’ll become a target for a tag out simply because you are so close to home. This is the point in your goal-setting where you want to buckle down and fill your mind with encouraging thoughts. Take time to listen to the cheers of the crowd. You are almost home.

With more advanced planning, you’ve made it to third base. Your goal is in sight. This phase is the final sprint to your first big success. Will you slide into base with barely an inch between you and the catcher, or will your success be a quick saunter thanks to your team mates scoring a great hit. Here is when you realize that your success depends heavily on your coach and your team of players.

A coach is available at every turn in baseball, guiding you in your decisions for when to run and when to hold. If baseball has coaches for each stage, so should you! Being in cohorts with someone who can objectively see the game and your progress will ensure that not only can you make a good decision, but you can make it all the way to home plate.

My work is much like a baseball game. Breaking down your goals into those key bases will help you gain continuous ground regardless of the circumstances you are given. I believe it is essential to go through life with a cheerleader who helps you maintain the mindset and set the strategy for your life.

And, even if you don’t make it to your base, your coach is the one to pick you up and dust you off. Then, most importantly, give you a chance at another swing!

by Rebecca Christman