Watch Your Habits, They Become Your Character

Leave your mark on others

(Photo: Horia Valen)

[This post is part of the Mental ABC's Of Pitching series. Check out the rest here.]

The old saying goes “Character is what you do when no one’s looking.”

In the many years I’ve spent around the game of baseball I’ve heard:

Baseball helps develop Character.

People say this about most sports, and other activities, I’d like to think baseball helps reveal character. Baseball helps reveal character. People develop their character, not a game. As you go through the C’s of the Mental ABC’s of Pitching, think on what baseball is revealing about you.

• Character. Every individual makes decisions about what he thinks is “right” and appropriate, and during these time of selection and the extent that they are acted upon, is the forming of one’s “character.”

• Coaching Self. Be mindful of the language you use to talk to yourself as a pitcher and player. You are the most important coach from now. You will continue to learn from others, myself included, but unless the things you’re taught get integrated into your behavior, it will be worthless.

• Courage.Cor is Latin for “heart”, and to have courage is to have “heart”. During you baseball career you going to hear the term a lot. To many this means to be fearless, but what it really means is to act bravely in spite of fear. Courage is suppress the fear of the situation, and rising above it.

Whatever circumstance you find yourself as a pitcher, player, whether that be at the beginning of a big game, in the middle of a big inning, facing a tough hitter, remember to make the right decision and act upon it. Regardless of the outcome ensure that your self  coaching remain positive and constructive. And above all else have the courage to rise of fear of the moment.

It takes courage which builds character to be honest with yourself about your current state of mind boys.  As a coach I can only see what is on the outside and you must determine the solution to your current situation that is happening on the inside of your body.  Have courage to do it, recognize it and overcome it.