Perspective is Power!

Everything in life is perspective.  The way you choose to perceive experiences in your life is how you get what you want out of your life experiences.  If each experience is just perceived as a way to move forward with more clarity, then each day should become richer, more lively, and better.

The easiest example of this is the current player you are watching in the World Series, right now, Albert Pujols.  Sure, I could really mention any of the current players on either roster because they all come equipped with stories of how they made it to the 2011 World Series.  But when people mention Albert Pujols, you listen.  His presence is obvious and powerful and how he got there was through an amazing perspective.  I partly say this because I have listened to him talk in the past several years I have been with the Cardinals Organization.  I also say this because look at his life, look at his manifestations, look at how he creates, listen to how he talks, look at how he carries himself, listen to the words he speaks, listen to the clarity of his voice.  It is oozing from every pore in his body.  And once again it happened the other night.  What happened you asked, well, perspective happened.

Albert Pujols was just another hitter in the first two games of the World Series, actually he wasn't even average at that time, when you look at the numbers.  I believe he started 0 for 8.  If he carried that 0 for 8 into game 3 he would have probably finished that game 0 for 12.  Especially after the way the media was tearing him up for the defensive mishap he had in the ninth inning of game 2.  But again, listen to how he talks.  The media interviewed him the next day and asked him about the defensive play.  Their perspective was that he let the team down, could have had an easy out at third base if he would have caught the relay throw.  Then the media was giving it to him a little more about the 0 for 8 start.

Now for Albert's perspective.  His response to the botched relay throw was simple.  He lost focus for a second, the ball cut on him and he wasn't able to make the play.  His response to the 0 for 8 start was just as simple.  Albert said he was making great swings and hitting the ball hard it was just not falling for him.  You see, this game of baseball is goofy.  Timing is everything.  It just so happened that Albert had a defensive mishap at a key time in the season.  But does that make the decade and more that he has played and won gold gloves defensively just disappear?  Not at all, in fact, that is why Albert can have the perspective that he has.  He is trained that way.  He knows who he is, the results don't control his mind, he does.  The same goes for the hitting side of things.  Albert is one of the best hitters who has ever played the game of baseball.  He knows there are going to be times that he will go 0 for whatever, but he also knows how to view the game.  His perspective is with each current AB.  The result can't matter because nobody gets on base or gets a hit with every AB.  If Albert got fixated on each AB the game would be a roller coaster and there is no way he would have ever been Albert Pujols.  Instead, Albert takes the perspective of putting a good approach or process to each AB.  If the result comes then great, if not, he goes back to the process and clears his mind.  So he was able to take all that information from the first two games and then made sure his perspective was in the right place, then he went to work.  The result.....3 homeruns and a 5 for 6 night!!

Perspective is a beautiful thing.  It can always work for you and work in your favor, all you have to do is practice.  Practice making perspective your best friend.  Practice your points of view in life and in baseball and things will start to roll your way more and more.  Don't be so impatient with all this.  Take your time, take a step back, take a look at your life and how things are going for you.  Learn about how you look at things more and more.  Stop blaming the guy next to you.  Who cares, just keep practicing and little by little things will come around, I promise!!!

Ok, all for now...enjoy your week and keep it moving!!