“Your setback is the platform for your comeback.” - Anonymous

What goes up must come down, and back up again! In both sport and in life, circumstances never remain perfect and easy. When things are working in our favor, everything seems to just seamlessly fall into place. The lack of persistent stress and struggle feels delightful, and life is perceived in a positive light. Now, what happens when those stressors and struggles start to hit? For many people, it feels as if life did a sudden 180 on them: one day they feel on top of the world and the next they feel as if they’ve hit rock bottom. Everything becomes gloomier, and life is perceived in a negative manner as the setbacks occur. The problem with this type of outlook in both sport and in life is that it feels as if you are riding a crazy, nonstop rollercoaster. The ups and downs in life cause instability as you emotionally experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. It’s easy to get caught up in these polarized feelings, but do the struggles always have to be perceived negatively? Is there a way to meet in the middle somewhere? You don’t have to stay on the emotional rollercoaster; a little shift in perspective goes a very long way.  

Setbacks are an integral part of sport and life, and they occur whether they are major or minor. Without setbacks, success would not feel as sweet as it is. Have you ever looked back on an obstacle and felt thankful that it happened to you? Believe it or not, the struggles experienced in life and during performance are actually a good thing. Their presence means that you are learning, growing, and becoming better rather than being stuck in the same, old routine. Nobody can perform perfectly 100% of the time, but not everyone experiences negative effects from their setbacks. The key is to view the setback in a certain light: one athlete may feel discouraged, while another athlete may feel inspired in the face of their own performance struggles. Instead of the difficulties being perceived as a direct attack on their skill level, they see it as a fun challenge to overcome. A soccer team could either shut down in the face of being down by two goals, or they could rise up and approach the challenge of being behind in the game with limited time to catch up. Facing the setback allows the possibility for the team to either catch up or even win the game. When the struggles are embraced rather than avoided, much growth will occur as a result.

In the end, the athletes who embrace the struggle become more resilient by pushing through the difficulties instead of just giving up. They take a setback and transform it into a comeback. They’re able to confidently face anything that may come their way and ultimately come out on top. This is where the good athletes are separated from the great athletes; setbacks and failures only push them to work harder and become better. Now, I know this is a very difficult way to think, especially when we are influenced by contemporary societal standards. Nobody wants stress, struggles, and setbacks in their lives and will quickly cringe at the mere thought of them arising. Very few people perk up at the thought of experiencing a setback, but those few are able to bounce back and excel a lot quicker. Setbacks will always occur, but they have the option to be perceived as a blessing or a curse. We have the power to either embrace or avoid the inevitable struggle.

No matter now dire the situation may be, it may not be all bad after all. This is your chance to embrace the struggle and prepare to rise again. Even when the setbacks may seem continuous and never-ending, they will pass, and you will come out on top again. Maybe your intended pathway will take a lot of setbacks to achieve your ultimate performance goals; all you have to do is hang in there and keep pushing forward. Anything worthwhile doesn’t always come easy. If the struggles and the setbacks are going to happen anyway, why not make the best of them? Enjoy the journey, not only when everything is working in your favor. Someday, you’ll look back and be proud that you stuck with your plan despite the difficult obstacles that were faced. Take that setback and come back stronger; make your comeback story more potent than the struggle. How much more rewarding is it to push through and conquer, rather than to get frustrated and give up? View the inevitable setbacks as your time to put the extra work in and make a significant comeback.

Next time a setback comes your way, I challenge you to look at its benefits. What is it teaching you? What will you gain from it? Build your resilience by welcoming the struggles with open arms. Become unshakeable in the face of a setback and allow your comeback to hit even harder. If you’d like to explore this topic further, please reach out!