The Five Inches Between Your Ears

"Most people are afraid of failure. I love failure because it tells me where to go next." - Bryson DeChambeau, professional golfer

Professional athletes are a rare breed. They have been gifted by God with incredible physical abilities that the rest of us “mere mortals” simply do not possess. On top of that, they have disciplined their bodies through countless hours of rigorous practice and training. And yes, some of them also happened to be in the right place at the right time to be noticed by a coach, a scout, or an agent.

However, what separates the best from the “best of the best” is how strong they are mentally and how well they handle pressure. Confidence in your abilities is vitally important and pure mental toughness is the ultimate difference maker. As Bobby Jones, the greatest amateur golfer to ever play the game once said, “Golf is a game that is played on a five-inch course – the distance between your ears.”

With the score tied and the game on the line, some baseball players pray that the ball won’t be hit in their direction or that they won’t be the one at the plate (or on the mound). In basketball, some players prefer to pass the ball – and the potential blame – while others crave the opportunity to hit the winning shot.

Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, had this to say about those pressure-packed moments when the clock was ticking down at the end of the game. “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Do you hear what MJ is saying? Trying – and failing – is a part of life. Ty Cobb recorded the highest career batting average in Major League history at .366, which means that he “failed” to get on base more than six out of every 10 at bats. And Babe Ruth, whose 714 career home runs set the MLB standard for almost 40 years, also struck out 1,330 times. Yes, the “Sultan of Swat” was also the “Wizard of Whiff”!

As Teddy Roosevelt famously said, “The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.” My friend, don’t be a “do nothinger” simply because you’re afraid you might fail… and that others may mock or criticize you as a result. Remember, it’s better to be in the game than sitting on the sidelines watching the action from afar.

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” I Timothy 6:12 (NIV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President