Ohhhh did I mess up, Reader!
I was sitting at my desk, heart pounding, staring at the screen as I realized I had completely forgotten to create and schedule this week’s newsletter. For a solid minute, I was convinced the world was going to end, at least my little corner of it. Deadlines, routines, expectations, all swirling together in a perfect storm of panic. But then it hit me… it’s okay. The world didn’t stop spinning. The sun was still shining. The newsletter would get done, and life would go on.
And it got me thinking…
I couldn’t help but laugh at myself a little once I took a breath. Here I was, spiraling over a newsletter, something I love writing and something that, in the grand scheme of life, doesn’t exactly rank up there with emergency surgery or alien invasions. It got me thinking about how often we create our own stress, piling pressure on ourselves over things that aren’t nearly as catastrophic as we believe in the moment.
This is something I see constantly in youth sports. A missed serve, a bad pass, or a less-than-perfect routine, and suddenly athletes, and let’s be honest, parents and coaches too, act like the season is doomed. The story we tell ourselves becomes: “If I don’t do this perfectly, I’m failing. People will judge me. Everything is ruined.” And so we crank up the stress, all by ourselves.
Stress isn’t always a bad thing. Some of it keeps us sharp, fuels our motivation, and helps us rise to challenges. But the kind of stress we invent, the kind that comes from unrealistic expectations, catastrophizing, or believing every moment has to be flawless, that’s the stuff that eats away at our confidence, focus, and joy.
I often remind athletes, and honestly myself too, that one bad hour does not make a bad day. It only becomes a bad day if we choose to let that single hour define us for the other 23. One mistake doesn’t erase all the progress you’ve made, and one rough practice doesn’t mean you’ve lost your skills. We decide whether a setback is a quick detour or the headline for the entire day.
In sports, and really in life, we need to practice catching ourselves when we start spinning stories that turn molehills into mountains. Did you really blow the entire match, or did you just have one tough play? Is being five minutes late for warm-ups the end of the world, or just a chance to learn and plan better next time?
Athletes, give yourself permission to breathe. Remind yourself that mistakes don’t define you, and most of the time, the stress you’re feeling is bigger in your mind than in reality. Coaches, help your players keep perspective. Support them in seeing errors as part of growth, not a sign of doom. Parents, model calmness when things go sideways. Your kids will learn from your ability to pause, reset, and move forward without unnecessary drama.
So the next time you feel stress boiling up over something that doesn’t actually threaten life, limb, or love, take a moment to ask: am I creating this storm? Is this really as big of a deal as it feels right now? More often than not, you’ll find that you can let go, breathe, and get back to enjoying the ride.
A Pause and a Choice
So there I was, staring at my calendar and feeling like I had ruined my day before it even started. But when I finally stopped to breathe, I realized I had a choice. I could spend the rest of the day punishing myself, or I could accept that it was just one hour of chaos in a day full of opportunities. I chose to let it go, and what could have been a lost day turned into one filled with gratitude, laughter, and, yes, a newsletter that got done anyway.
I challenge you to do the same. The next time something goes sideways, pause. Remember that one moment doesn’t own the whole day unless you let it. Choose to make the next hour better, and watch how it changes everything.
Until next time...Unless I forget...