Give Yourself a Break

Coping with anxiety at home, school, and other arenas is a regular challenge.

People tend to adopt "roles" at home, at work, and elsewhere. 

None of this is absolute yet elements of truth exist. Let's clarify. 

1) You're not family. In a family, you get "unconditional love." Legendary Cal Rugby coach Jack Clark tells us that teams have conditional love. Become who we are, how we play, how we communicate. You may know the sayings "home is where the heart is" or "home is where they have to take you back." On a team, they don't have to take you back if your conduct is egregious. 

2) Even if you're "The Perfect One," you won't be. Give yourself a break because you won't hit 100%, serve 100%, or defend 100%. The best player on a team has obligations to work hard and be a good teammate, not to be perfect. 

3) Don't be an imposter. "I'm not good enough." When you go onto the floor as the best outside, setter, or defender, "act like it." Coach Scott Celli put you out there to play the part not to be an ornament. 

Anxiety widens the gap between what is and what can be. Coaches see possibilities and production. They help players become who they ought to be. 

Lagniappe. Raise your standard and strive to exceed it.