You have your classic situation: you’re coming off the bench and struggling for playing time. You’re frustrated but think if you just stay positive and keep working hard, you’ll get your shot. The problem is, it’s not positive thinking that you need; it’s an acceptance of what’s going on. Most people look at situations as glass half-empty or half-full when they should just see that there’s water in the glass, and what they do with that water is entirely up to them.
If a player coming off the bench, struggling for playing time, sees things as glass half-empty, they might say, "The coach just won’t give me a chance, and I’m never going to get on the field." Obviously, that’s not the best way to view the situation. It puts control in external factors, taking power out of your hands. A player who sees things as half-full might say, "This is a chance for me to get better. I know I’ll get my opportunity if I just keep working hard." While positive and encouraging, this mindset still doesn’t provoke any action to change the situation.
Most players face challenges at the same pace they would during a game. There are no breaks, no time to pause and reflect — you just have to adapt and react. You play the full 90, adjusting to the game’s tempo, but you’re not able to see the whole picture. In soccer, there’s a term called La Pausa. It literally means "The Pause" and refers to a player’s ability to slow the game’s pace, take control of the ball, and assess the situation around them.
You can do the same with every challenge you face. Instead of matching the game’s tempo and reacting, finding excuses or reasons why things are happening, you can slow down, step back, assess, and take control. You can pause, go up to the owner’s box, and zoom out to see the bigger picture. What can others see that I’m missing? By stepping back, you give yourself the time and space to assess and accept the situation (for example, “I’m not getting as much playing time as I want”), which can lead you to take the next action that will change your situation. It may prompt questions like:
Am I okay with my playing time and role on the team?
What do I need to do to earn more playing time?
How do I figure out what areas need improvement?
When and how should I approach my coach about playing time?
How can I improve in those areas?
How much time and effort am I willing to invest to change my situation?
Once you have these answers, you can begin your journey to change your situation. Everything is within your control if acted upon with commitment, discipline, and humility. Accept the situation, embrace the challenge, and take control of your journey.
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