 Challenges
that Create
Character
Shaun
Goodsell, MA
President
and CEO of
Mental Edge
Athletes of all ages will invest varying amounts of time and energy
this summer
participating in
their sport.
For some, their
expectations are
simply to get
some exercise,
be apart of a
team, and learn
the skills
associated with
the sport. These
are all valid
reasons to
participate and
most do so for
these reasons.
I am beginning
to realize that
there are a
significant
group of young
athletes that
invest enormous
time, energy,
and resources to
push themselves
in an attempt to
see what they
might be able to
accomplish.
Certainly, there
are some that
might be a bit
unrealistic in
their
expectations,
unsure of their
performance
capacity, and
anxious about
their next big
competition but
one thing is
true, they are
challenging
themselves to do
something they
are not sure
they can
accomplish and
the CHALLENGE is
cultivating deep
CHARACTER.
I am not sure
there is true
character
without
challenge. When
we are faced
with being at
the end of our
own known
resources, then
we face a crisis
of sorts. This
crisis can be
loss of
confidence,
passion,
motivation, or
inner
assurance. What
does one do when
this happens?
They have to dig
deep, they have
to soothe the
pain of
disappointment
by developing
the inner tools
to calm
themselves,
choose empowered
thinking, depend
on a quality
inner network of
encouragers,
recall past
successes and
rely on those
when current
moments try to
tell a different
story.
Basically, the
challenges we
pursue put us in
a position to
face the end of
ourselves and
force us to grow
character,
greater inner
skills, and a
resourcefulness
that can be a
foundation for
future success
at any endeavor
we choose to
undertake. I am
continually
inspired by
those young
athletes that
dedicate
themselves to
the challenges
that force them
to build a
continual series
of skills and
the depth of
character that
comes with doing
so.
If you are
looking to
CHALLENGE
yourself and
break down the
barriers that
have kept you
from the deep
joy of
accomplishment,
I want to help
you break
through those
barriers! I
challenge you to
pick up the
phone right now
and schedule
your first
consultation
with me.
Shaun
 CONGRATULATION
TO
JUSTIN
AND
ASHLEY!
Justin
and
Ashley
were
blessed
with a
son,
PAYTON
LEE!
 The
Perfect
Game
Brady
Greco,
Performance
Coach
One
of
the
finest
displays
of
perspective
in
all
sports
was
witnessed
this
past
month
by
Detroit
Tiger
pitcher
Armando
Galarraga.
Galarraga
had
retired
26
of
26
opposing
batters
without
allowing
a
hit,
walk,
or
hit
batsmen.
All
he
needed
was
one
more
out
to
become
only
the
21st
pitcher
ever
in
Major
League
history
to
throw
a
"perfect
game".
This
feat
is
one
of
the
toughest
to
accomplish
by
any
athlete
in
any
sport.
It
is
what
Little
Leaguer's
stay
up
at
night
dreaming
about
in
their
beds.
As
the
27th
batter
dug-in
to
face
Galarraga,
30,000
screaming
fans
were
waiting
to
witness
history.
What
was
to
follow
in
the
moments
after
will
be
forever
remembered
as
one
of
sports
most
all
time
"botched"
calls
by
an
umpire,
official,
or
referee.
The
batter
hit
into
a
routine
grounder
in
which
Galarraga
had
to
cover
first-base.
The
first
baseman
flipped
Armando
Galarraga
the
ball
for
the
last
out
of
the
game,
etching
in
history
his
"perfect
game".
Unfortunately
umpire
Jim
Joyce
saw
the
play
differently
and
called
the
batter
safe
at
first,
ultimately
blowing
Galarraga's
"perfect
game".
After
one
look
at
the
replay,
it
was
evident
the
runner
at
first
base
was
out
and
Joyce
had
made
the
wrong
call
on
the
field.
Since
baseball
does
not
have
the
luxury
of
having
instant
replay,
the
call
on
the
field
stood.
In
an
instance
like
this,
with
so
much
emotion
attached
to
the
situation,
anyone
in
their
right
mind
would
have
RIPPED
umpire
Jim
Joyce
a
"new
one"!
Nevertheless,
Armando
Galarraga
composed
himself
and
brushed
the
call
off
with
a
"you
gotta
be
kidding
me"
smirk,
and
went
back
to
the
mound
to
complete
the
game.
After
the
game,
a
petition
was
delivered
to
Bud
Selig
(commissioner
of
MLB)
to
over-rule
Joyce's
'bogus'
call
and
to
award
Galarraga
with
a
"perfect
game".
However,
Selig
would
stand
by
the
call
Joyce
made
on
the
field
that
night
and
did
not
acknowledge
the
"perfect
game"
thrown
by
Galarraga.
The
following
game,
Galarraga
(who
was
not
pitching
that
day)
made
it a
point
to
hand
deliver
the
team's
line-up
card
to
Jim
Joyce
who
was
umping
behind
the
plate.
Galarraga
wanted
to
make
sure
that
Joyce
was
okay
and
to
let
Joyce
know
he
had
no
negative
feelings
towards
him.
When
Galarraga
was
questioned
about
the
blown
call
Joyce
made,
he
simply
responded
with,
"I
know
myself
that
I
threw
a
perfect
game,
and
that's
all
that
matters."
This
type
of
perspective
is
what
athletes
striving
to
make
it
to
the
next
level
must
learn.
Galarraga
understands
that
baseball
is
bigger
than
he
is.
He
understands
that
humans
make
mistakes.
He
understands
that
he
is
lucky
and
honored
to
be
able
to
play
the
sport
he
loves
on a
daily
basis.
He
knows
that
if
he
dwelled
on
the
situation,
he
would
end
up
mentally
beating
himself
up.
Above
all
else,
Armando
Galarraga
realizes
that
life
is
full
of
wonderful
things
and
baseball
is
just
a
fraction
of
what
the
entire
world
has
to
offer.
The
character,
integrity,
and
sportsmanship
displayed
by
Armando
Galarraga
was
much
greater
to
witness
than
watching
ANY
other
pitcher
throw
a
"perfect
game".
Like
this?
When
your
ready
to
live
life
with
this
kind
of
perspective,
simply
email
us
to
get
started.
Brady
|
Mind Strength. Become
Exceptional.
