It is great to see you in the second entry of this young project in which I will share a short story and conclude with a reflection, and challenge, based on what I learned and now implement in my everyday life. It would be helpful to keep in mind the concluding ideas from the first post where we explored the importance of personal and professional values like perseverance in the face of adversity, openness to new opportunities and love for the tasks we perform each day.  Keep these in mind as you read through today’s post.   

Three weeks ago, my team at Vålerenga’s academy participated in a tournament in which only some of the top academies in Norway and guests from neighbouring countries are invited to take part.  The tournament consists of three groups of three teams. Each team plays their group opponents in order to determine who will compete against whom the following day.  From a competitive approach, the aim is to be placed in the top group the second day and win that group by the end of the weekend.  While this was our initial objective, we unfortunately finished second in our group meaning a 4th place finish would be the highest we could achieve.  

As we were preparing to go out to warm up for the first game on Sunday, the second day of the tournament, I gave an important message to the players. In my pre-game talk, I discussed the value of maintaining a high–level of motivation and performance, regardless of our current position.  I told them to not waste any opportunities because at the end of the day, we were all doing what we loved and were fortunate for that.  Afterall, we never know when a privilege might be taken away. Just three days later, messages from the club and schools began to arrive advising us that we were no longer allowed to train or have any group activities until further notice. 

There are two main learning points I would like to reflect upon from this story; firstly, the importance of reorganizing objectives and secondly, the significance of appreciating our present and the accompanying privileges that often go unnoticed.  

There are two moments in the anecdote above where resetting objectives was key. The first, when the team did not reach first place in its group and subsequently could not compete against the top teams the second day.  Feelings of frustration and sadness were shared not only by the group, but by me as well.  Faced with this scenario we were challenged to find motivation to play at our highest level, all the while knowing that our original goal was now unachievable.  

This type of situation is not exclusive to sports, throughout our lives it will be required that we re-define our goals. We can relate this ability to perseverance, the value mentioned on the first post of this blog. Instead of letting the disappointment take control of our mindset, we should invert the equation; let our mindset control the situation. Adapt to it, reframe, and create new challenges by which to measure yourself.   

The second moment from the story in which this mindset is helpful comes three days after the tournament is over and everyone is required to stay home. Suddenly our lifestyles have changed drastically; activities that we enjoyed are no longer permitted and we must adapt to a situation that is out of our control.  Rather than retreat or feel bitter, we must take charge of our development and actively decide how to make the best use out of this almost forgotten entity, time.  

For a football player, this might mean to work on the development of specific technical or physical aspects of her/his game. For non-athletes the same principle applies. Ask yourself, what does this new situation give me the opportunity to do? Can I continue to learn an instrument or language I never found the time for before? Is there room for more meditation in my life now? Or perhaps, could I start to write a blog….? Welcome change and be flexible with your goals, this way your success never depends on external factors but on your own outlook and efforts.  

The second learning point of the story is to appreciate our current situation and the privileges that might go unnoticed every day. For us involved in football, the adaptation of not being able to train or spend time interacting with some of our closest friends is challenging. My hope is that we have all understood how easily, and perhaps unfairly, our whole lives can change in any given moment. Therefore, be thankful about even the most mundane parts of our lives, like shopping for your own groceries!   

These are incredibly strange times for which no one was prepared. Nevertheless, I am sure it is not the first or last time we will be faced with sudden adversity.  Whether it be responding to a global pandemic or an unexpected physical injury, we all need to have the mental flexibility and strength to adapt to unforeseen circumstances and define new objectives. While doing so, be fully engaged in every moment of that process, this way you will fill your day with purposeful activities, regardless of what you are doing. Take these times as an opportunity to discover more of yourself and expand your repertoire of skills and knowledge. I challenge you to find joy in these times of uncertainty.