THE FINAL BOXSCORE

In this "Five-Minute Friday" episode, JP challenges you to consider a powerful question that could transform the way you play today -- and every day hereafter. 

(Five-Minute Friday episodes are short-form podcasts roughly five to ten minutes in length, intended to provide a quick-hit of inspiration for hitters heading into the weekend.)

Transcript

WELCOME TO EPISODE FOUR: THE FINAL BOXSCORE 

I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO SOMETHING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TODAY — BUT WELL WORTH YOUR WHILE. 

I’M GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION… AND I’D INVITE YOU TO GIVE IT SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. 

HERE IT IS:

WHAT IF IT ENDED TODAY? 

WHAT IF YOUR BASEBALL CAREER, FOR WHATEVER REASON, CAME TO AN END THIS VERY DAY?

WHETHER YOU ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL. OR COLLEGE. OR THE MINOR LEAGUES. OR THE SHOW.

WHAT IF TODAY WAS YOUR LAST DAY ON THAT DIAMOND? YOUR LAST DAY IN THAT BATTER’S BOX? THE LAST DAY YOU EVER PUT ON THAT UNIFORM AS A PLAYER? 

WHAT IF TODAY WAS YOUR FINAL BOXSCORE.

FEEL THAT. 

REALLY FEEL WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN TO YOU. 

SIT WITH IT FOR A LONG MOMENT. ALLOW THE IDEA TO PENETRATE AND UNFOLD INSIDE OF YOU. 

WHAT REGRETS WOULD YOU HAVE? WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO MISS THE MOST? WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN MOST GRATEFUL FOR? 

I EVEN SUGGEST YOU SIT DOWN AND WRITE SOME OF THESE THINGS OUT ON A PIECE OF PAPER. TAKE A FEW MINUTES. 

PAUSE THE PODCAST. OR REVISIT THE QUESTIONS LATER. 

THERE IS POWER IN IT.

AND IF TODAY, WAS INDEED YOUR LAST DAY — HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH THINGS? WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY?

DON’T GLOSS OVER THIS. 

DON’T TURN AWAY. 

MEET IT HEAD ON. LIKE YOU WOULD A PITCHER CHALLENGING YOU WITH HIS BEST HEATER. 

ONE OF THE ROOTS OF OUR FEAR AND ANXIETY COMES FROM OUR ANTICIPATION OF THINGS ENDING. WE FEAR THE END.

DON’T WE?

THE END OF AN AT BAT

THE END OF A GAME

THE END OF A SEASON

THE END OF A CAREER 

WE FEAR THINGS ENDING BEFORE WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT WE WANTED, ENDING BEFORE WE HAVE FULLY REALIZED OUR GOALS, AND ENDING BEFORE WE HAVE BECOME WHAT WE SET OUT TO BE. 

SO OUR RESPONSE TO THIS IS CLEAR…

WE MUST MASTER THE END. 

WE MUST FACE DOWN EVERY EMOTION THAT RISES UP AT THE THOUGHT OF TODAY BRINGING OUR LAST AT BAT. 

DENY NOTHING. RECONCILE ALL OF IT. PROCESS IT. FEEL IT. UNDERSTAND IT. AND MAKE PEACE WITH IT.

THIS IS COMPETITIVE FREEDOM. 

THIS IS HOW YOU GO OUT THERE… AND PLAY ABSENT THE CHAINS OF WORRY AND ANXIETY AND REGRET. IT IS HOW YOU TAP INTO THE DEEP GRATITUDE AND PASSION YOU HAVE FOR EVERY SINGLE OPPORTUNITY YOU ARE GIVEN EACH DAY AS A HITTER. 

IT’S HOW YOU COME TO REALLY APPRECIATE EFFORT OVER RESULT. AND PURE PERFORMANCE OVER PRODUCTION. AND EXPERIENCE OVER EXPECTATION.

BE THANKFUL FOR EACH STEP YOU CAN TAKE WITH YOUR SPIKES IN THE CLAY. EACH FEEL OF THE BAT IN YOUR HANDS. THE SCENT OF THE FRESH CUT GRASS. THE CHATTER OF YOUR TEAMMATES. THE ROAR AND GASPS OF THE CROWD. 

NONE OF IT IS GUARANTEED. 

IT IS ALL A MELTING ICE CUBE. THE CLOCK IS TICKING… 

WE SIMPLY DON’T KNOW WHEN THAT CUBE DISSOLVES OR WHEN THAT SAND RUNS OUT. 

BUT IT WILL. 

I PROMISE YOU. 

THAT PART IS GUARANTEED. 

WE ALL HANG IT UP AT SOME POINT. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE OF US. IT’S THE BOND WE SHARE. 

WE ALL HAVE AN ENDING. 

BUT THIS DOESN’T HAVE TO BE NEGATIVE OR DEPRESSING. 

TO THE CONTRARY… 

IT’S ENTHRALLING AND LIBERATING IF YOU ALLOW IT TO BE. IT’S A PROFOUND CHANCE TO TRULY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE — RIGHT NOW WHERE YOU STAND. IT’S A CHANCE TO  REALLY COME ALIVE, PERHAPS FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THAT FIELD, AND GO ALL-IN ON EVERY OPPORTUNITY YOU GET.  

SO DO IT.

CONSIDER IT ALL BEING GONE AFTER TODAY. NO MORE AT BATS. NO MORE BARRELS. NO MORE CHANCES TO SLAY THE DRAGON. 

NO MORE CHANCES TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE. 

THEN USE IT.

REALLY TAP INTO THAT ENERGY OF DEEP UNDERSTANDING AND GRATITUDE THAT COMES AS A NATURAL BYPRODUCT OF THIS TYPE OF EXERCISE. IT OFFERS A WELLSPRING OF POWER FOR YOU AS A HITTER. IT WILL GIVE YOU THE FUEL TO MOVE BEYOND ANYTHING THE GAME THROWS AT YOU. 

ONLY THE WISE AND COURAGEOUS CONSIDER THE END.  FROM ANCIENT SAMURAI TO ROMAN GLADIATORS… THERE IS A TRAIL OF HISTORIC EVIDENCE PROVING ITS POTENCY. 

FOLLOW THEIR LEAD.

MAKE THIS INTO A DAILY PRACTICE… IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT OF HONEST CONSIDERATION…

PERHAPS YOU TAKE TIME ON THE WAY TO THE BALL PARK. OR MAYBE DURING WARMUPS. OR BEFORE BATTING PRACTICE. 

JUST CUT OUT A SMALL SWATH OF TIME TO GET IT DONE. 

AND SOON YOU’LL FIND THAT THERE IS AN UNDENIABLE STRENGTH BUILDING INSIDE OF YOU. A MOVEMENT OF ENERGY THAT SEEKS TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF EVERY MOMENT, THAT CALLS ON EVERY PART OF YOUR TALENT TO RISE UP AND PERFORM .… WITHOUT REGRET FROM THE PAST OR CONCERNS FOR THE FUTURE.

WHEN WE RECONCILE THIS ENDING OF OURS (AND ALL THAT IT REPRESENTS)…

YOU WILL OFTEN FIND THAT…

FEAR EVAPORATES. ANXIETY DISSOLVES. SENSES PEAK. THE BODY CALMS. THE MIND CLEARS.

AND ALL THAT REMAINS IS…

YOU. 

THE PITCH.  

AND THE ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.

CUT TO OUTRO: