Failing sucks.
While it may seem at times that no one else is going through failure, the truth is, we all fail.
It's crazy to think that so many great players have failed countless times throughout their career, yet they aren't remembered for that.
They're remembered for the great moments, the incredible performances, and the often amazing victories.
I would even go out and say that the best players are the ones that fail the most.
While that might sound counterintuitive, it makes sense if you think about it.
Let me explain.
People that don't fail frequently are often set in their ways and scared to get out of their comfort zone. In other words, their growth becomes stagnant.
And when you relate that to hockey, stagnant players who aren't constantly growing, learning, and improving are only ever going to be average players.
On the flip side, people that fail often are usually the ones that are pushing their limits and looking to grow.
For hockey players, great players fail often because they're constantly pushing themselves to try new things, develop new skills, and reach new limits.
Plain and simple, great players aren't settling. They're always wanting more.
I know it sounds crazy when you first hear it, but it's true. If you want to be great, you need to accept that failure is part of the process of improvement and growth.
That doesn't just mean that you go out, give a half hearted effort, fail, and then try to sell yourself that you're getting better.
Failing is important when done the right way.
I know that's another crazy sounding thing, but it's true. There is right way to fail.
If you're putting all your effort and energy into something, and you fail, that's an opportunity to learn and grow.
In other words, if you're lazy you miss out on the growth opportunity.
But, if you put everything into your preparation, effort, and attitude and still fail, then it's not really a failure at all. It's simply just a way that didn't work. And from that you'll learn, grow, and continue to get better.
So don't be scared of failing, be scared of not putting everything you have into what you're going after.
No one is perfect, and no hockey player is exempt from making mistakes.
The best players know how to trust the process and learn from their mistakes to ensure that they're continually improving.