What Shot Are You Missing?

"I always miss my first free throw; that is just me." After many of his high school basketball games, my son would say this to me. He has one of the highest percentages of free throw shots on the team but always misses his first shot of the game at the line. The coach has told me this, the scorekeeper has told me this, and all find it funny that he is so predictable to miss the first but make the rest.

He just started his AAU season, and the first tournament was this weekend. I told him, "Don't miss your first free throw; you're not the guy who always misses the first one -- now you're the guy who makes the first one every time. Think that over and over. These games will be too close for you to miss your first free throw."

Here is the coolest thing… four games played, and in each game, the first time stepping to the free throw line… swish! This blew my mind. You may wonder why I share this story. There are things we tell ourselves or kids or spouses that are simply a belief or paradigm that we can change. What things are you saying to yourself that you continue to make true? I am working a ton on purpose and vision, and there are so many belief systems or paradigms that are just there because of my upbringing or childhood, or someone told me. "I am not a great salesperson, I procrastinate, or I am bad at hiring" (to name a few of my own). Once you bring this thought to the surface, you will become aware of so many limits that your mind is confirming for you.

Take some time to think about one thing that you tell yourself, and then what you can say to yourself to change that belief. I know it sounds like rainbows and butterflies, but what if it is not? What if…