With school about to start soon, in most states, many athletes will be preparing for their opportunity to make it to the next level in their journey. Whatever that next level may be, young athletes are anxious about the upcoming opportunities. “Did I work hard enough? Is my coach going to notice how hard I’ve worked? Is this my last season of playing the sport that I love? Will I get recruited by the school of my dreams?”

All of these questions will run through the heads of millions of young people all over the world over the course of the next few months. The truth is… No matter how much you prepared, or didn’t prepare(I see you), you can’t truly know what is in store for you during this upcoming season. I’ve seen players work hard all summer, training, sharpening their skills to the fullest. Only to enter the season and get injured in the first few moments of competition. I’ve seen players basically waste their entire off-season, not really working on their craft, then have one of the greatest seasons of their lives.

So. How do you REALLY get ready?

You don’t.

You don’t GET ready. You STAY ready.

Ready is a mentality. Ready is a character trait. You’re either ready or you’re not. Ain’t no gettin’.

Some people(including myself), are always GETTING ready. Are you one of those athletes who is always “about to” do something? Or are you the one who is doing it. One day you have to just decide that you’re going to be great. Then EVERY, SINGLE, DAY, you just wake up GREAT! It’s kind of like a workout for your mind and your heart. If you really believe that curling a dumbbell every day will make your biceps stronger, then you SHOULD definitely believe that waking up every day and thinking you’re great will eventually work the same way in your mind.

Proverbs 23:7 For as he(or she, my words) thinketh in his heart, so is he:

GOD created you ready. From that point on, your mind and heart have just been filled with all of the doubt and uncertainty that the world has to offer. If you live with this thought, you’ll never have to worry about getting ready. Your entire life will be a constant preparation for whatever may come.

Do me a favor. Wake up every morning, and before you even brush your teeth, look at yourself in the mirror and say GO BE GREAT! Say it loud enough so that YOU can hear it. <—That’s important. Do this for 30 days straight, then come back to this post and tell me how you feel. Here’s what I can guarantee:

• Your shot will be going in more

• You will complete more passes

• You will have more hits at bat

• You will set a PR

• You will be a better friend

• You will be a better sibling

• You will be a better child

• You will be a better person…

That’s how my GOD works. You say it, you believe it, you act on it, HE delivers.
See you in 30 days.

-Rok