This marks post #5 in our 8-part series related to the video below...
When all of your eggs are in one basket, what happens when the basket breaks?
I've written on this in the past. The more you put all of your identity into one thing, the more your feeling of value and self-worth fluctuates with that thing.
When your game is good, your world is really good.
When you struggle, your world crumbles.
Do you know what I'm talking about? Can you relate? Have you felt the same?
So I urge all goalies, consider taking up other hobbies or passions in addition to hockey. Pour your soul into what you love, for sure, but allow yourself to be distracted by other things in your world when things aren't going right in hockey.
Diversifying yourself (your portfolio) is a financial principle, applied here to me playing the piano and you and your hockey career.
For me, CrossFit, coaching, playing the piano, science & tech, data analytics & stats, and video production are all additional interests of mine. When one thing is slow or down, I can spend time and energy in another to feel fulfilled and to be able to keep on keeping on.
You'll burn out if all you ever feel from hockey is stress or anxiety or negative emotions.
Diversifying your interests allows you another outlet for that energy. Another place for you to dump those bad feelings and thoughts.
Maybe for you, it's school. You're going to be a great athlete AND a great student. So you pour yourself into both. You make sure you study hard, and work hard on the ice.
That way, when hockey doesn't work out one weekend, you can reset by feeling success in your studies. The same is true vice versa.
I'm not saying don't pour yourself into hockey. Definitely do! Life is fun when we're striving and pushing and aiming for something more.
But just acknowledge the highs and lows of the game. Diversifying your interests will smooth out the volatility.
My challenge to you is to write down all things that interest you outside of hockey that you might be able to put energy into.
Stay frosty, friends.
Josh