How to Find Self-Awareness and Optimism in Every New Beginning

Every year, there’s a new Major League Baseball opening day. A time of optimism. A time where maybe, just maybe, this is your team’s year. The teams, players, and fans all start with a blank slate. As the saying goes: hope springs eternal.

Late March/early April coincides with the season of renewal, spring. A fresh, new beginning and hope are in the air. I’ve found both the dawn—and the rhythm—of a baseball season can mirror our daily lives. Allow me to explain.

We can renew our minds and see each new day as an opportunity to make a huge difference in our own lives, as well as our customers’ and employees’ lives. Each day we can make micro-gains that help us to form winning habits.

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Our daily dedication to our work comes back to discipline, consistency, motivation, and professionalism. When we apply these keys to success, great things begin to happen. Even in the face of adversity. Have a bad day? There’s always the opportunity to go out and have a great one tomorrow.

Hey, maybe the first part of your day didn’t get off to a good start. There’s an opportunity for renewal to make the second half better. Take your foot off the gas, pump the brakes a bit, and give yourself a personal reset. You have this power to stop, reflect, and think positively.

Have a great day? Excellent! Keep building on it. But remember, past performance does not guarantee future results. Humbling? Yes. Also, a call to approach each day—and each moment—with humility, focus, hard work, and positive energy.

The leaders that I’ve coached and worked with who find the most success and happiness are the ones who’ve built a foundation on values, defined purpose, and goals. They consistently pursue each new day with confidence, courage, and optimism.

Some days, you will succeed. Other days, you won’t. Many of the greatest baseball players to ever wear a uniform struck out—a lot. Even the best hitters in the game do not get a hit—nor reach base—the majority of the time.

Think about that. Simply put—they do not succeed. What I’ve always deeply admired about their professionalism and drive for more is their willingness to put the past behind them and live in the present moment with belief—to trust their plan.

Former Major League Baseball player Tony Gwynn was one of the greatest hitters to ever live. He succeeded as a hitter about as often as any player in the history of the game. He said,

“The first part about being a good hitter, before you even get in the batter’s box, is number one, mentally, you gotta believe that ‘hey, I can have success.’ And how you have success—how you have consistent success—is by being consistent with your approach."

That approach—that mindset and daily routine—is something that all of us can make our own. It’s having unwavering perseverance in the face of failure. The willingness to try again, and believe that things will be better next time. It’s not getting too high—or too low—based on our results.

It’s refusing to give up when things don’t break your way. Baseball players learn a new insight from each walk-up to the plate. Each pitch taken. Each opportunity to look the pitcher in the eye, reassure themselves, and approach the next pitch with belief and confidence.

This is the mindset of elite baseball players, but it’s also the mindset of champion leaders. I encourage you to find comfort in knowing that success comes when you keep going and persevere, even when you haven’t yet seen the fruits of your labor.

You won’t always achieve a positive result. Many of the seeds that you sow as a champion leader take time to sprout. Keep going. Work hard and give your best each day for yourself, for the people you lead and for your organization.

When you’re optimistic, you’ll always learn. When you learn, you’ll remain curious, and when you’re curious you’ll find new ways to succeed. You’ll find fulfillment in your work.

Here’s to new beginnings.

Visit Christopher on his website (chrisdconnors.com) to learn more about his keynote speaking, team-building workshops and coaching work with leaders and organizations. Christopher D. Connors is the author of The Champion Leader: https://amzn.to/4aIeJaw. He is also the creator of top LinkedIn Learning course, Leading with Emotional Intelligence.