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While recently attending a coaching conference the presenter opened with a simple question to the coaches - “Do you believe your job is important?” Without hesitation most answered, “Yes.”

The presenter went on to say that if we truly value our own lives and value the impact we can make in the lives of others - “We’d act differently.”

When I heard that I was floored and had to ask myself, “Am I important? What value do I bring? If I am important what do I need to start doing differently in order to bring the greatest value to those I have a chance to influence each day?”

Once we recognize our true value we stop​ going​ ​through​ ​the​ ​motions​ in life, the gym, the field, with our nutrition habits, and our thoughts and start​ ​getting​ ​serious​ ​about becoming​ ​the​ ​best​ ​we​ ​can​ ​be​ ​at​ ​whatever​ ​we’re​ ​doing​ r​ight​ ​now​. When you truly believe that the world will be a better place by you becoming the best at what you do...you’ll stop talking about it and start being about it.

So, when you take a look in the mirror today, ask yourself - How important are you? How much value do you bring to the lives of others?

Realize that what you say and how you say it carries value. Realize that what you do and how you do it carries value. Imagine - if even one set of ears or one set of eyes is turned towards you on social media or in person - you have an audience and you might just say something or do something that absolutely transforms a life. A human life. That’s value. Are you beginning to see the importance you bring?

Here’s a few ways to act​ ​differently​ once you realize your true value…

- Measure​ ​yourself​ ​with​ ​the​ ​right​ ​tools​.

- Do​ ​everything with​ ​‘mission​ ​accomplished’​ ​in​ ​mind.

- Manage​ ​yourself​ ​in​ ​light​ ​of​ ​the​ ​time​ ​you’re​ ​given​ ​by​ ​flexing​ ​your​ ​"no​ ​muscle."

- Be​ ​present​ with​ ​what​ ​you’re​ ​doing​ ​or​ ​who​ ​you’re​ ​with.

Let’s look at two examples in hopes that you can relate to one:

To the athlete:

- Measuring yourself with the right tools starts with understanding that sports​ ​are​ ​what​ ​you do...they're​ ​not​ ​who​ ​you​ ​are​. When you find yourself measuring your value by last night’s box score you’re in for quite the roller coaster ride and a big blow to your self-worth.

DO THIS INSTEAD: Separate who you are from what you do. Failed attempts will happen but you are not a failure. Build a successful process that will consistently lead to desired results and stick to it. No one teaches this better than Steve Springer on his Mental Game Hitting CD at qualityatbats.com .

- Most athletes end up going through the motions and never reach their end goal because they never see it clear enough.

DO THIS INSTEAD: If your end goal is to play Major League Baseball ask yourself, why? What will you do with your platform to make a difference on and off the field? Once that’s clear, start​ ​living​ ​and​ ​thinking​ ​it​ ​today​! Let your MLB end goal set the tone now for your work ethic in the gym, practice, and competition. Develop a Major League mindset now by reading books on the mental game that will speed up your maturation and learning curve so you can bring the most value to your team. Do everything out of love and be ready and willing to make those around you better. That’s what builds a winning culture and that’s what brings value.

- If you believe you are valuable - you’ll value your time and decisions. Every athlete gets the same amount of time in a day but many choose to​ ​waste​ it on social media or Netflix binging.

DO THIS INSTEAD: Invest​ time into becoming the best in the world at what you do...and be convinced that the world will be a better place because of it. Then, strengthen your "no muscle" by saying no to distractions and temptations that aren’t aligned with your MLB mission. Remember, saying yes to one thing means saying no to everything else. Be stubborn with your time and decisions.

- Being present sounds so simple, but in reality it's something our society struggles with tremendously. When everything around you is calling for your attention it can be easy to zone out. The past will leave you living in regret and the future will fill you with worries.

DO THIS INSTEAD: Get present by taking nice, slow, deep breathes. Begin talking to yourself in the present tense and be intentional on focusing on what is in front of you. When you begin to recognize the present as the gift from God that it is- you’ll gain the competitive edge. Action happens in the present...be there for it.





To the person fighting to lose weight:

- First and foremost -​ ​the​ ​scale​ ​shows​ ​where​ ​you​ ​are​ ​at​ ​one​ ​moment​ ​in​ ​time...it’s​ ​not who​ ​you​ ​are​. Your value as a person is not based on a number so don’t let something without a heartbeat determine how you feel about yourself or your progress.

DO THIS INSTEAD: Use the scale as an accountability partner and be unemotional when you step on it. Focus your energy on building an incredible weekly process that leads to your ideal self. Pick one or two things a week that you’ll be absolutely relentless about, like drinking a certain amount of water everyday and staying out of the kitchen after 8 PM. Those are measurable goals that you have control over, and that if done relentlessly, will be rewarded on the scale. Value your process. Act and think differently.

- People trying to lose weight often lose sight of their end goal because of discouragement over failed attempts. Know that failure will happen. The important thing is that you always learn from failure and stop repeating the same mistakes.

DO THIS INSTEAD: Each day, vividly cement​ ​what​ ​your​ ​ideal​ ​self​ ​looks,​ ​acts,​ ​and​ ​feels​ ​like​ ​-​ ​and​ ​start​ ​being​ ​that​ t​oday! All you ever have is today, and today + today + today = a lifetime. You have the rest of your life to work at this...but see and focus on the end goal, today! A great way to do that is by evaluating periodically..Is your weight loss mission worth it? What value will it bring to you as you progress towards your ideal self? What value will it bring to your family and workplace when you’re at your best?

- When you value yourself you’ll value your time and decisions as the most important things in your life. Does this sound selfish? Absolutely. But it was being too selfless that likely got you where you’re at currently. Remember, when you value yourself - you act differently.

DO THIS INSTEAD: Strengthen​ ​your​ ​"no muscle"​ ​by​ ​getting comfortable​ ​saying​ ​no​ ​to​ ​anything​ ​that​ ​isn’t​ ​aligned​ ​with​ ​where your goals should be taking you​. That includes saying no to extra obligations, Netflix binging, slacking on your nutrition plan, skipping workouts, or wasting​ time on social media that could be invested​ in meal prepping. If you’re worth it and you’re mission is worth it - strengthen your "no muscle."

- The most valuable moment in your day is this moment. You cannot change the past or predict the future. You can only influence this moment so be here now. Regret and guilt live in the past - so learn from it. Anxiety and fear live in the future - so prepare for it. The present moment is a gift and the only place we can actually live despite what our past regrets and future fears constantly scream at us.

DO THIS INSTEAD: Start acting differently by practicing being present in every category of your life. Your mental and physical presence is the most valuable thing you can give someone. In conversations make that person the most important thing in your world. Be where you need to be when you need to be there - in the here and now. That’s value. Take the time to estimate your own value or someone else will determine it for you. Value is often associated with cost. What are you willing to invest in you to become your best self? It will take effort and consistency - but you’re worth it and the value you’ll bring to the lives of others will absolutely pay off one hundred fold.





If you’re interested in learning how valuable you are from God’s perspective and desire to learn strategies for growing in your relationship with God throughout your athletic career make sure to pick up Playing on High Ground: A Christian Approach to the Mental Game





Today's great blog was by guest writer Ray Santiago III, owner of Renewed Mind Performance. Santiago is a Sport and Exercise Psychology Consultant who specializes in baseball and softball, working with both teams and individuals, as well as an author. Visit renewedmindperformance.com for more information.



