Before our game this weekend, coach posted the starting lineup in our team group chat. I anticipated seeing my name among the starting 11 since I felt I had performed well in our previous game. However, to my surprise, I was left off the list. In that moment, my ego took a hit, and questions swirled in my head about why I was dropped. I even felt a twinge of frustration, thinking, 'Doesn't the coach see my potential?'

But I quickly caught myself before negativity could take over. In the past, I would have allowed such situations to affect both my performance and mood. However, through experience, I've learned to shift my mentality and find the positives in any circumstance.

After a brief moment of disappointment, I consciously paused any negative thoughts. I took a moment to lie down, practicing a short yoga nidra session to detach myself from reactive negativity. Then, I began replacing those negative thoughts with positive ones. I reminded myself that being on the bench offered an opportunity to enhance my tactical awareness. And when I eventually entered the game as a substitute, I could seize the moment and become the 'super sub,' potentially scoring the winning goal.

In this way, I regained control over what I could influence—the thoughts in my mind. Allowing me to gracefully accept what was out of my control— being put on the bench.

Funny thing is, as I walked to my car, I received a text from my coach telling me that he had changed his mind, and that I was back in the starting lineup. And to top it all off, I ended up scoring that game.

So if ever a situation catches you off guard, or isn't what you expected, or isn't ideal or what you planned for, take a moment to pause and remember it's not the situation that dictates your response, but rather your response that dictates the outcome. By consciously choosing to focus on the positives, adapt, and make the best of any situation, you empower yourself to overcome challenges and thrive in the face of adversity.