As I continue to develop my mental state on the training pitch, I am always developing the best ways for myself to overcome the frustrations of failure. It is frustrating to keep trying something and failing, continuing to miss a specific pass because I am trying to force it too much. So, why am I getting frustrated? Because I missed a pass? Because I think I let my teammates down from that missed pass? Because I think I let down my coaches from that missed pass? Because I think I am less of a player because I missed that pass? The only person I am letting down in this situation is myself by getting frustrated. If I do not continue to work on something that is not a strength in my game, if I give up, then I have truly failed myself. I should be embracing this challenge and stay patient, because if I didn’t fail, then how would I learn?

So often with failure, we look elsewhere to place blame, and even when we do understand that it is our own making, rarely do we truly process why we are failing, or even if it is considered to be failing. Identifying what part of the process failed and recognizing it for the next time you are in the situation is very important to making progress. It is also an individuals response to failure that truly sets them apart from others. How you react, in any situation is a huge dictator of character, and with failure specifically, it separates the strong from the weak, the motivated from the unmotivated. Success does not happen without failure, so embrace the challenge to better yourself, to keep persevering, knowing that one day, your greatest failures will lead to your greatest successes.

“Winners are not afraid of losing. But losers are. Failure is part of the process of success. People who avoid failure also avoid success.” – Robert T. Kiyosaki

The quote above is very relevant to our team this weekend. We lost, but I know that we will not avoid it. We will take the result on the chin and embrace it, embrace our weaknesses shown this week and come back stronger and more prepared for success next week.

I continued to explore and enjoy the new city I have been living in for 3 weeks, all while catching up with a few friends who also live here. New Zealand’s natural beauty is simply unbeatable; the fresh air, green hills, blue seas and the great people, it truly is special. It sure does feel good to be back!