Post-game interviews with head coaches after a loss always go the same. “We came up short this time around, but going to watch the tapes and see what we can fix.”
Every time a team comes up short coaches are always quick to suggest reviewing the film; analyzing missed opportunities and where they failed. But how often do you hear a coach reference reviewing the tapes after a victory? Why is it always after a failure that professionals are so quick to reference the tapes?
Obviously, many of us, especially myself, are not professional athletes or coaches but the same principle applies to us in our everyday lives. Whenever we fail at work or in our personal lives, we play back the film over and over again; nit-picking on the minutia.
“I shouldn’t have said that but should have said this.”
“If I could go back I would make this decision instead of that one.”
While it is useful to analyze mistakes, dwelling on them can be toxic.
We should truly be going back to the film room after successes. Peaks and valleys are normal in everyone’s life. You will be in a rut and that is normal. But, if you are able to understand the trends in your life of when you are at the peaks, analyzing them can save you from staying in the valley. I am suggesting you record every second of your life…
Hopefully you didn’t stop reading there because you should not be recording every second of your life. That’s weird. The film room that I am suggesting is journaling. Journaling is a great way to review the “film” that is your life. Don’t take my word for it? In Matthew McConaughey’s most recent interview on the Tim Ferris Show, he talks about journaling daily and focusing on the highs rather than the lows. This man has been using this strategy and journaling daily for 30 years.
The same way you are able to analyze the negative trends, you are just as easily able to analyze the positive trends in your life. What were you eating? What were you doing in your free time? What were your relationships like? Knowing all the things that were helping you feel good about life are useful so that you can use them to get you out of any valleys.
A daily practice would be ideal but weekly, even bi-weekly would help paint a good picture of the current state of your life. Now go one and get back to the film room!
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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