Contentment is defined as the state of being contented. Yet Leo Babauta [ZEN blogger/journalist from Guam] described contentment as,
“…contentment isn’t a matter with being content with your situation in life and never trying to improve it. It’s a matter of being content with what you have — but realizing that as humans, we will always try to improve, no matter how happy we are. If we don’t, we have given up on life.”
Yet, too often we become satisfied with where we are. My son is playing varsity, has a high batting average or is a very good pitcher. That’s not a dream! That’s not a goal! Instead we suppress our dreams for fear of what others think, embarrassed, we do the reverse. We change our goals to fit what others think and become what others believe is more realistic . End result, we set our goals too low.
What is wrong with setting a goal of playing Major League baseball?
After all we help them establish their MLB goal as early as T-Ball. Work hard and you have a chance to play Major League Baseball. Little league onto select ball, then travel ball. Running them all over God’s green earth, always seeking the best and yes, always demanding they improve as a player. Reach for the stars, but ensuring they realize, if you want to play at the highest level you have to give a little more!
Then, as if we get scared, afraid they are going to fail, we soften. Instead of pushing them to continue their dream to be a Major League Baseball Player, we start to channel their enthusiasm into becoming happy they made the high school baseball team. We change the focus. It’s as if we are justifying all this hard work was worth making “All County” or “All State.” After all, we need to be Realistic.
I agree with Will Smith, the famous actor, who said, “Being realistic is the most common path to mediocrity.”
So, when it comes to baseball, how do YOU answer the question, “What is the secret to your contentment?”
Until next blog, don’t be mediocre.
Al McCormick
