August 15, 2025 | Tagged Motivation,
Simplify Your Upcoming Volleyball Season
Excess clutter and distractions can leave us feeling burdened, chaotic, and frustrated. Take a moment to reflect on what might be cluttering and complicating your upcoming volleyball season.
EGO: One of the main distractions in volleyball is being overly concerned about others' opinions. Worrying about pleasing the coach, impressing your parents, maintaining a cool image, or stressing over performance metrics can hinder your game. If you find yourself overly critical of mistakes or feeling moody after games, your ego may be complicating your experience.
WHAT IF: The fear of “what if” can create mental barriers. Consider how much pressure you feel and how it affects your enjoyment of the game. If you’re not having fun, it’s time to simplify your mindset. Establish a daily routine of positive affirmations.
FLASH RATHER THAN FINISH: If you prioritize looking good over getting the job done, serious coaches will overlook you. A good coach can quickly distinguish between ego and players who contribute meaningfully to the team. If you think a drill is beneath you or worry about your image, you’re focusing on the audience instead of your team.
WAYS TO SIMPLIFY
Designate phone-free time. Scrolling through your device isn’t providing comfort; it’s distracting you and reducing your focus.
Take a moment to slow down. Pay attention to your surroundings. Savor your meals. Spend time outdoors. Take deep breaths. Embrace life.
Engage in small acts of kindness. Each gesture is an opportunity to appreciate your teammates. Value each individual. Discover their passions. Show kindness without expecting anything in return.
Reduce FOMO: set clear boundaries around your time, friendships, and commitments. Less truly is more.
Serving Fundamentals: Success in serving relies on proper technique, a positive mindset, and the hours you practice daily. Identify the core fundamentals and create a workout plan for these primary skills.
Momentum: Regardless of how impressive your start is, the ultimate goal is to win. Inadequate finishing often stems from fatigue and mental strain. Mistakes compound in volleyball easily. Repeating actions without reflection will yield the same results. Keep your momentum moving in strong directions. Notice where your momentum shifts and create strategies to maintain momentum. Strip down the game to only noticing momentum shifts. What can you learn?
Why Simplification Matters
Consider those who aspire to master mathematics. Those who excel in math do so by filtering out unnecessary information, allowing them to learn and progress more efficiently.
This principle applies to all areas of life; when things become overly complicated and cluttered, we can feel overwhelmed and lose sight of our true purpose. Simplifying helps us concentrate, reduces our choices, minimizes decision fatigue, and strengthens our resolve.
Simplification is a practice that focuses on what truly matters, leading to greater inner peace, hope, freedom, humility, and strength. By narrowing your focus, you can commit fully to your goals.
Consider simplifying these areas:
Streamline your environment: A less cluttered and cleaner space can enhance mental well-being, reduce sensory overload, improve focus, and boost productivity.
Refine your schedule: Cutting out time-wasting activities, establishing clear boundaries, and allocating time for important values like family, exercise, and prayer can lead to increased productivity, lower stress, stronger relationships, a healthier life balance, and greater inner joy.
Clear your mind: Let go of burdensome thoughts like anxiety, envy, fear, blame, addiction, resentment, and hatred. These negative emotions weigh you down and complicate life.
Embrace gratitude, mercy, peace, joy, and hope—avoid dwelling on negative narratives. Taking a break from these thoughts by engaging in a morning writing practice can help you achieve a calm, powerful mindset.
Streamline your relationships: Focus on the key individuals you wish to support and serve, while also viewing every interaction through the lens of small acts of kindness and goodness. A smile, a friendly greeting, or a kind word to everyone you encounter can boost your joy.
Hey NBC Volleyball Student-Athletes, we can’t wait to see you again next summer and are excited to support you in pursuing your dreams and aspirations. You are a remarkable creation, designed by God to make a positive impact in the world. Let go of anything that holds you back this month and seek ways to live joyfully. Your leadership through service to others heals the world.