At some point we're all confronted with set-backs, injuries, sickness, and unforeseen adversity getting in the way or slowing us down from reaching our goals. When you're in the midst of a set-back it's crucial to think about WHAT YOU STILL CAN DO. Not only is this important in preventing you from getting mentally discouraged, but it also helps you pick back up quicker and get back on your path more effectively when the time's right.

As an athlete and coach all my life I've had friends, training partners, teammates, athletes and clients who I've watched get frustrated and disappointed to the brink of quitting...all the while in a dark cloud of negativity surrounding the limitation or set-back they're experiencing. It's like getting sucked in a vortex that you wind up participating in, adding strength to the set-back. When associated with situations like this, whether personally, or helping someone cope, I like to think of all the elements, factors, and parts that contribute to the whole (person, plan, and environment) and conceptualize how small a percent of that whole a broken finger, sprained ankle, or 2 sick days represent in retrospect...they're tiny! This obviously doesn't apply on game-day, or 2 days prior to national championships, but really during training, and in some day to day life situations. 

During a gymnastics practice in college I once confronted a teammate who was sitting out of practice pouting in frustration about a broken toe...sitting out of a 3 hour practice!! After talking to him about how many other things he could be working on to strengthen his upper body, core, flexibility...even doing mental routines and visualization drills, the broken toe really seemed dwarfed by all of the other positive constructive things that didn't require the king toe. After a few days my teammate came back with more drive and focus than most could remember him having prior to getting injured. So, sometimes our set-backs can be blessings in disguise...but only if you stay POSITIVE & PERSISTENT!